NXP Semiconductors has announced that Theo Claasen, executive vice president responsible for business development, will retire from the company with effect from 1 August.

A second managerial change at the semiconductor company will see the resignation of Hein van der Zeeuw, executive vice president, responsible for operations.

Both will relinquish their roles on NXP’s board of management and executive management team.

Van der Zeeuw will act as an advisor to NXP until October 1, when he will leave the company.

Mark Hamersma, currently head of strategy, will assume responsibility for business development and strategy at NXP. Chris Belden, currently responsible for global manufacturing, is appointed as senior vice president operations.  

“I am grateful that Theo was prepared to stay three years beyond his original planned retirement in 2005 to help create the new company. And I would like to thank Hein for his longstanding contributions to NXP, most notably leading the multimarket semiconductors business unit until last year with much success,” said NXP CEO, Frans van Houten.

NXP is headquartered in Europe, it has 37,000 employees and posted sales of $6.3bn in 2007.