At the chip company Qualcomm, an expert for 5G data radio takes over the chief position. The 50 – year old Christiano Amon replaces Steve Mollenkopf, who had successfully brought the company through a series of legal turbulence.

Amon has been a driving force behind Qualcomm’s efforts to become a leader in the 5G technology business over the past several years. Among other things, there are 5G modems from Qualcomm in this year’s models of Apple’s iPhone. Previously there had been a bitter patent dispute between the two companies that had lasted for years, which was 2019 settled with an agreement. The license agreement concluded between Apple and Qualcomm now runs until 2025, Apple is already working on its own iPhone modems.

Business with Patent licenses defended During Mollenkopf’s tenure, Qualcomm was also able to defend its business model against a lawsuit brought by the US competition authority FTC. According to the ruling of a US court of appeal, the group may continue to make the purchase of a chip dependent on the acquisition of a far-reaching patent license. The patent license business is Qualcomm’s second – and more lucrative – pillar alongside chip sales.

The 52 -year-old Mollenkopf has been running the business since March 2014, but is now withdrawing from the first ranks. He will stay with the company as a consultant for a while. Amon has been with the group since 1995. Qualcomm chips are at the heart of many smartphones and tablets as the processor core. The company also offers network and communication chips for various applications.

Last year, the company’s share price was strong after the Corona crash in spring , meanwhile the group is on the stock exchange around 168 billion US dollars (137 Billion euros) and thus more than the most valuable German stock exchange group SAP.

(axk)