- Aims to leverage Thornton’s expertise to address industry challenges, particularly in global trade and economic security policies.
- She holds a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Michigan and a bachelor’s degree in political science and mathematics from Colgate University.
In a significant development in technology policy and global trade, the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) has welcomed Mary Thornton as its new Vice President of Global Policy. This announcement underscores semiconductors’ critical role in shaping the global policy landscape. The SIA is a prominent advocate for the semiconductor industry, representing a staggering 99% of the U.S. semiconductor sector by revenue and a substantial portion of non-U.S. chip firms. With the industry facing unprecedented challenges and opportunities, the appointment of Mary Thornton to lead SIA’s global policy team is a significant move.
In her new role, she will spearhead the association’s efforts in global policy formulation, focusing on global trade and economic security policy initiatives, among other crucial areas. Her extensive background and expertise at the intersection of global trade and technology policy make her a valuable asset to the SIA team. John Neuffer, President and CEO of SIA, expressed his enthusiasm for her appointment, emphasising the pivotal role of semiconductor technology in the global policy arena. Neuffer highlighted the urgency for leaders in Washington and worldwide to enact policies that foster growth and innovation within the chip industry. Her arrival is expected to bolster SIA’s advocacy for initiatives that enhance and fortify the semiconductor sector.
Shevbrings a wealth of experience to her new role at SIA. Before joining the association, she served as the Head of Trade and Export Controls Policy at Amazon Web Services (AWS). She led global trade and export controls policy at Texas Instruments Incorporated, a renowned designer and manufacturer of advanced semiconductor products. Her career also includes a tenure as a senior trade negotiator for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), where she represented the United States at the U.S. Mission to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Switzerland. While there, she successfully negotiated the expansion of the Information Technology Agreement at the WTO. This landmark achievement eliminated customs duties on numerous technology products across over 80 countries.
Her track record extends further, as she worked to broaden access and create export opportunities for U.S. companies in foreign markets through various bilateral and multilateral fora. Her past roles also include U.S. Departments of Commerce and Treasury positions.
Her extensive qualifications and experience position her as a prominent figure in the semiconductor industry’s pursuit of favourable global policies and continued growth and innovation. As the world increasingly relies on semiconductor technology, her leadership at SIA is expected to be pivotal in shaping the industry’s future.
