AXT Inc., a manufacturer of compound semiconductor wafer substrates, has appointed veteran technology executive Jia-Bin Duh to its Board of Directors, strengthening its leadership as the company expands its global business and operations in China.
The appointment took effect on July 16, 2026, increasing AXT’s board to six directors from five.
Duh brings more than three decades of leadership experience across the technology and consumer sectors. He has held senior executive roles at Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft and Cisco Systems, where he led business expansion and operations across Greater China.
AXT said Duh’s experience in international business, strategic growth and the Chinese commercial and regulatory landscape will support the company’s long-term growth plans. His expertise is also expected to benefit Tongmei, AXT’s China-based subsidiary, which plays a key role in the company’s manufacturing operations.
The appointment comes as semiconductor companies continue to navigate shifting global supply chains, geopolitical tensions and growing demand for compound semiconductors used in photonics, wireless communications, power electronics and other advanced applications.
Duh currently serves as a director of Primax Electronics Ltd., a position he has held since 2021. He also served as the company’s chairman and chief executive officer between 2023 and 2024.
Earlier in his career, Duh was President of Cisco Systems China from 1998 to 2005 while also serving as Corporate Vice President of Cisco Systems Inc. Before that, he led Microsoft China as president from 1993 to 1998, helping expand the company’s presence in one of the world’s fastest-growing technology markets.
His board experience also includes serving as chairman of Mobinnova Corp. and as an independent director at several listed companies in China and Hong Kong.
Duh holds a bachelor’s degree in Control Engineering from National Chiao Tung University and earned MBA degrees from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
Morris Young, Chief Executive Officer of AXT, said Duh’s experience building technology businesses across Greater China would strengthen the company’s leadership as it pursues long-term growth.
“He brings exceptional leadership experience gained from building and leading businesses across Greater China for some of the world’s premier technology companies,” Young said. “His understanding of the Chinese business environment and extensive public company board experience will be valuable as we continue to expand our global leadership in compound semiconductor substrates.”
AXT supplies compound semiconductor wafer substrates used to manufacture gallium arsenide, indium phosphide and germanium-based devices. These materials are widely used in optical communications, wireless infrastructure, satellite systems, consumer electronics and emerging AI-related applications.
