Eric Benhamou

Background

His family settled in Grenoble, France, where he grew up and attended Lycée Champollion.

Education

He continued his studies in Paris and graduated with a "diplôme d"Ingénieur" from École nationale supérieure d"arts et métiers (Ai 172), the youngest student to receive this degree. He was graduated with a Master of Science.

Career

And subsequently was awarded a doctorate. In 1976, at the age of 20, he emigrated to the United States and enrolled at Stanford University. 3Com and Palm

He worked as a software engineer for several years at Zilog, a pioneer company in microprocessors, and worked on Z-Net, the industry"s first microprocessor based local area network computer system.

He went on to co-found Bridge Communications in 1981 which specialized in computer network technologies.

He was vice-president when the company was acquired by 3Com in 1987. Three years later, he became Chief Executive Officer of 3Com, a position he held between September 1990 and December 2000.

Under his tenure, 3Com grew approximately 20 fold and became a Fortune 500 company. In the 90"s, 3Com purchase some 30 other technology companies, the largest of which in 1997 was Chicago-based United States. Robotics.

He nurtured the internal start-up Palm Computing, and funded the development of what became the most successful handheld computer of the decade, the Palm Pilot.

He served on PITAC, the United States President"a Information Technology Advisory Council, appointed by President Bill Clinton. After his tenures as Chief Executive Officer of 3Com and of Palm, he continued to serve as Chairman of both companies until their acquisition by Hewlett Packard in April 2010. He joined the board of Cypress Semiconductors in 1994 and became Chairman of the Board in1998.

He taught entrepreneurship at European Institute of Business Administration (Institut Européen d'Administration des Affaires) from 2004 to 2009.

He joined the board of Stanford University"s School of Engineering and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. In 2001, he co-founded the Israel Venture Network, a venture philanthropy organization, and served as its Chairman.

In 2003, he started his venture capital investment firm, Benhamou Global Ventures, and continues to engage in the creation and growth of new startup companies in information technology.

Chairman of the Board, Cypress Semiconductors

Chairman of the Board, Israel Venture Network

President of American Friends of Arts et Métiers ParisTech

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of 3Com

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Palm.

Achievements

• Nessim Habif Prize 1997 Medal of Honor of Ellis Island.

Membership

Board member of Stanford University"s School of Engineering.