Joining Synaptics as CEO was not a decision I made lightly. It was the result of deep reflection, careful evaluation, and a desire to lead a company uniquely positioned at the intersection of some of the most exciting technology trends of our time: Edge AI, low-power connectivity, and intelligent sensing.
From a personal perspective, this role marks a significant milestone in my career. But more than a title, what drew me to Synaptics was the opportunity to turn vision into silicon—literally and figuratively. As a company, Synaptics has an incredible legacy of innovation. Yet what excites me most is where we’re headed next: delivering IoT solutions that bring artificial intelligence to the Edge.
My Journey Here
My path to Synaptics started far from Silicon Valley, in my father’s surgical clinic in India that bore my name. I hoped to follow in the footsteps of my father, who was a surgeon. However, after a near-fainting spell during one of his demonstrated procedures, I quickly realized that medicine wasn’t my calling.
Instead, I gravitated toward physics and math, earning a degree in electronics and communications engineering. I came to the U.S. for graduate studies in computer science and engineering, and began my career as a chip design engineer (an ASIC and CAD/CAE Engineer). A few years in, I realized I wanted to be closer to the business side. I saw engineers pouring pride into their work, yet struggling to have it properly represented. I believed I could bridge that gap, so I earned my MBA and moved into product marketing and management.
Over the past two decades, I’ve been fortunate to help lead the wireless revolution, from early Wi-Fi innovations to multi-billion-dollar business units at Broadcom and Qualcomm. At each step, I’ve maintained a deep respect for engineering talent. Engineers don’t just build—they shape the future. That belief has guided me throughout my career and is central to how I lead. And although becoming a doctor wasn’t my path, helping others has always been my purpose. At Synaptics, I get to fulfill that purpose by shaping technologies that enhance how people live, work, and connect.
Why Synaptics?
So, why Synaptics? Because this company has the right ingredients for the next era of Edge computing, wireless connectivity, human interface solutions, and the ambition to lead.
Today, AI is mostly run in the cloud. However, the future is also at the Edge, in your home, your workplace, your city, various venues you frequent and the factories that we count on. Because cloud computing isn’t always cost-effective, power efficient, private enough or fast enough, we need intelligence embedded directly in the products we use every day.
Synaptics is one of the few companies that already has the foundational technologies to make this transformation happen. We have advanced processors capable of running machine learning inferences on the device edge. We have world-class connectivity solutions, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and more. And we have sensory capabilities like touch, audio, and fingerprint recognition that allow Edge devices to perceive and interact with the world around them.
Individually, these technologies are powerful. But together, they’re transformative. Synaptics can deliver full Edge AI solutions for a variety of end applications. In other words, we deliver not just components, but the complete recipe. That’s what sets us apart.
One Synaptics
I believe the next chapter of Synaptics requires us to come together as One Synaptics. This means aligning around a shared vision and recognizing that no individual is bigger than the team. Every employee, in every role, is a partner in our journey.
In my first few weeks here, I’ve met with teams across engineering, marketing, sales, finance, legal, IT, and HR. What I’ve seen is an energized workforce, people who are excited about our future, eager to innovate, and ready to lead. My job is to provide clarity and focus, so that we prioritize the right opportunities and execute as one company.
Looking Ahead
Synaptics has always evolved with the times. From pioneering human-machine interfaces to enabling secure biometrics and intelligent displays, we have never stood still. Today, we are poised to lead again, this time by enabling the Edge AI revolution.
Our transformation isn’t about abandoning our past. It’s about amplifying our strengths and adding to our strength by delivering solutions—not just components—that make life easier, safer, and smarter for people everywhere.
As we do this, we’ll also remain committed to being responsible corporate citizens, supporting our employees, their families and the communities where we live and work. I also believe in the sentiment that we are only as good as our community, and I hope to do more to give back to our local community along with my team at Synaptics.
I’m honored to lead Synaptics at this pivotal moment. The vision is clear. The technology is ready. And the team is motivated.
Now, it’s time to turn that vision into silicon and solutions.