# Dave Kelf

> Dave Kelf is the CEO of Breker Verification Systems, a San Jose-based EDA company whose test suite synthesis technology automates verification of large, complex chips including more than half of the world's RISC-V processor core projects. A UK-trained engineer turned marketing and business leader, Kelf spent three decades across Cadence, Synopsys, Co-Design Automation, Novas, and OneSpin, where he helped introduce and grow the SystemVerilog language and the Verdi debug environment. He rose from Breker's chief marketing officer to chief executive in October 2021 and has since guided the company through back-to-back years of 35 percent revenue growth.

- **Role:** Chief Executive Officer at Breker Verification Systems
- **Organizations:** Breker Verification Systems, OneSpin Solutions, Sigmatix, Inc., Cadence Design Systems, Co-Design Automation, Synopsys, Novas Software (Springsoft), Accellera
- **From:** United Kingdom
- **Nationality:** British
- **Education:** BSc, Electronic Computer Systems, University of Salford, MSc, Microelectronics, Brunel University, MBA, Boston University
- **Known for:** Promoted from Breker CMO to CEO in October 2021., Led Breker to back-to-back years of 35 percent revenue growth (2023-2024 and 2024-2025)., Grew Breker's tools to be used on more than half of all RISC-V processor core developments globally.

## Career timeline

- **1990s** — Works in sales and marketing at Cadence Design Systems, responsible for the Verilog and VHDL verification product lines.
- **2000s** — As VP of marketing at Co-Design Automation (later Synopsys), oversees the introduction and growth of the SystemVerilog language.
- **2000s** — Runs marketing for Novas Software, known for the Verdi debug environment; the company becomes Springsoft, now part of Synopsys.
- **2000s** — Serves as president and CEO of Sigmatix, Inc.
- **2010s** — Vice president of worldwide marketing at formal verification provider OneSpin Solutions (now Siemens EDA); serves as treasurer of Accellera.
- **2018** — Joins Breker Verification Systems as Chief Marketing Officer, also managing the sales channel.
- **2021** — Named CEO of Breker Verification Systems on October 26, with founder Adnan Hamid becoming Executive President and CTO.
- **2024** — Breker RISC-V SystemVIP deployed across more than 15 commercial RISC-V design projects; Kelf appears on SemiWiki podcast on the future of verification.
- **2025** — Breker records 35 percent year-over-year growth, doubles its customer base, opens an engineering and support facility in Bangladesh, and partners with Moores Lab AI on an AI-driven SoC verification flow.

## Achievements

- Promoted from Breker CMO to CEO in October 2021.
- Led Breker to back-to-back years of 35 percent revenue growth (2023-2024 and 2024-2025).
- Grew Breker's tools to be used on more than half of all RISC-V processor core developments globally.
- Doubled Breker's customer base and added two 'Magnificent 7' companies and several top-10 semiconductor firms.
- Helped introduce and grow the SystemVerilog language during his tenure at Co-Design Automation.
- Built marketing for the industry-leading Verdi debug environment at Novas Software.
- Served as treasurer of the Accellera standards organization.

## Latest updates

- **2025-06** — Panelist at the Accellera Portable Stimulus luncheon and the DAC panel 'What is the Future of Design Verification? UVM, PSS, Formal, VIP, AI & Beyond.'
- **2025** — Breker reports 35 percent growth, doubles customer base, and partners with Moores Lab AI on the first AI-driven SoC verification flow.

## Links

- Website: https://brekersystems.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davekelf/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/BrekerSystems
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Breker-Verification-Systems/141262

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/dave-kelf
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-07-21