# Aart de Geus

> Aart J. de Geus is the Dutch-born electrical engineer who co-founded Synopsys in 1986 and served as CEO or co-CEO from 1994 until January 2024. Now executive chair, he helped commercialize logic synthesis, the software process that converts descriptions of digital circuits into implementations. His public life also includes science education outreach, blues guitar with Legally Blue, and work with OpenMinds on energy and emissions.

- **Role:** Co-founder and Executive Chair at Synopsys, Inc.
- **Organizations:** Synopsys, Inc., General Electric, Applied Materials, Inc., OpenMinds, Inc., Synopsys Outreach Foundation, Legally Blue, National Academy of Engineering
- **From:** Vlaardingen, Netherlands
- **Nationality:** Dutch
- **Education:** Master’s degree in electrical engineering, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Ph.D. in electrical engineering, Southern Methodist University, Honorary Doctor of Science, University of Glasgow
- **Known for:** Helped develop and commercialize logic synthesis for digital chip design., Co-founded Synopsys and led it as CEO or co-CEO across three decades., IEEE Robert N. Noyce Medal, 2007.

## Career timeline

- **1978** — Earned a master’s degree in electrical engineering at EPFL.
- **1982-1986** — Worked at General Electric, ultimately managing its Advanced Computer-Aided Engineering Group.
- **1985** — Completed his electrical engineering Ph.D. at Southern Methodist University.
- **1986** — Co-founded Optimal Solutions, the company that became Synopsys.
- **1987** — The company adopted the Synopsys name and moved to Mountain View, California.
- **1994** — Became CEO of Synopsys.
- **1999** — Established the Synopsys education outreach foundation.
- **2007** — Joined the Applied Materials board and received the IEEE Robert N. Noyce Medal.
- **2012-2022** — Served as co-CEO with Chi-Foon Chan, from May 2012 to April 2022.
- **2022-2024** — Served as sole CEO again, from April 2022 until January 2024.
- **2024** — Became executive chair in January as Sassine Ghazi became CEO; received the SIA Robert N. Noyce Award.
- **2026** — Participated at CERAWeek as Synopsys executive chair and an OpenMinds board member, addressing energy and AI.

## Achievements

- Helped develop and commercialize logic synthesis for digital chip design.
- Co-founded Synopsys and led it as CEO or co-CEO across three decades.
- IEEE Robert N. Noyce Medal, 2007.
- Phil Kaufman Award, 2008.
- GSA Morris Chang Exemplary Leadership Award, 2009.
- Joint Venture Packard Award for Civic Entrepreneurship, 2011.
- Elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2019.
- Honorary Doctor of Science, University of Glasgow, 2022.
- Semiconductor Industry Association Robert N. Noyce Award, 2024.

## Latest updates

- **2026-10** — A Bit Personal published an episode with Jodi Shelton featuring de Geus on leadership, the growth of Synopsys and his life as a blues musician.
- **2026-03** — Addressed energy, emissions and AI at CERAWeek in Houston as an OpenMinds board member and Synopsys executive chair.
- **2024-12** — Discussed his career, techonomics and growing interest in energy and climate on EE Times’ Silicon Grapevine podcast.
- **2024-11** — Recipient of the 2024 SIA Robert N. Noyce Award; the awards dinner was scheduled for November 21 in San Jose.
- **2024-01** — Transitioned from CEO to executive chair of Synopsys; Sassine Ghazi became president and CEO.

## Links

- Website: https://www.synopsys.com/company/corporate-governance-ethics/board-of-directors.html
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aart-de-geus

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/aart-de-geus
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-22