Hector de J. Ruiz, Ph.D.
Executive Chairman of AMD

Hector Ruiz is executive chairman of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. and chairman of the company’s board of directors. As executive chairman, Ruiz will ensure a smooth executive leadership transition, drive the company’s asset smart strategy to completion, and guide high level government and other strategic relations.

Dr. Ruiz joined AMD in January 2000 as president and chief operating officer, and was named chief executive officer in April 2002. He was appointed as chairman of the board in April 2004, and was named executive chairman in June 2008.

Previously, Dr. Ruiz completed a 22-year career with Motorola, and in his last post there, served as president of the firm’s Semiconductor Products Sector. Ruiz also worked at Texas Instruments in the company's research laboratories and manufacturing operations.

Dr. Ruiz is passionate about the role of technology in education and empowering the underprivileged. Ruiz’s vision led to the groundbreaking 50x15 Initiative, a commitment to empower 50% of the world's population with basic Internet access by the year 2015.

Dr. Ruiz is a board member of the Eastman Kodak Company, serves as vice chairman of the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) Board of Directors, and serves on the Board of Trustees of Rice University.

Born in Piedras Negras, Mexico, Dr. Ruiz earned bachelor's and master's degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas, Austin. He then earned his doctorate in Electrical Engineering from Rice University in 1973.