Cadence Names Murphy to Lead Corporate Strategy; AMD veteran to help define Cadence's plans for high-growth electronics markets.

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 13, 1996--Cadence Design Systems Inc. today announced the appointment of K.C. Murphy, 41, to the position of senior vice president, corporate strategy.

In this role, the 17-year veteran of Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) will be responsible for helping define Cadence's product, services and corporate strategies for addressing the needs of its customers in the critical vertical markets of computing, wireless communications, multimedia, networking, and semiconductors.

Cadence's transformation from a software tools provider to a supplier of complete solutions to electronics companies' product development processes mandates a multi-faceted perspective, and a keen understanding of vertical market trends and dynamics.

The company's corporate strategy group is chartered with researching those markets and directing Cadence's overall strategies to leverage opportunities. Murphy's lengthy tenure at AMD has allowed him to develop the skill sets and insights into a variety of key Cadence markets.

"In order for Cadence to deliver optimal value to our customer base, it is essential that we understand the needs of and have executable strategies for each customer's unique situation," said Joe Costello, president and chief executive officer for Cadence.

"K.C. brings the type of experience and leadership to drive Cadence's strategies in areas where we can add significant benefit to customers, as well as participate in the growth potential of those markets ourselves."

Murphy and his team will focus on markets where product development challenges are most intense from time to market, engineering expertise, and product innovation perspectives. Cadence's approach of building customized solutions for customers' design automation requirements will be based in large part on input and direction from Murphy's organization.

Murphy joins Cadence from AMD where he was most recently vice president of strategic marketing for the corporation. In this role, Murphy was influential in developing strategies and positioning AMD in high-growth markets including wireless, communications, multimedia, and networking.

Murphy also held management positions in AMD's technical field engineering organization and in the company's product planning efforts. He holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Cadence Design Systems Inc. provides comprehensive services and technology for the product development requirements of the world's leading electronics companies.

Cadence is the largest supplier of software tools and professional services used to accelerate and manage the design of semiconductors, computer systems, networking and telecommunications equipment, consumer electronics, and a variety of other electronic-based products.

With more than 3,000 employees and annual sales in excess of a half-billion dollars, Cadence has sales offices and research facilities around the world. The company is headquartered in San Jose, Calif., and traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CDN.

CONTACT: Cadence Design Systems Inc., San Jose

Mike Sottak, 408/428-4456

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