SEQUANS Communications, a supplier and developer of fixed and mobile WiMAX semiconductor solutions, has named Deborah Choate Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Choate has 23 years' experience in international business, operations, and finance with both multi-national public and private companies, ranging in size from $25 million to more than $1 billion in revenues. She is particularly experienced in technology, including wireless software and hardware, as well as corporate governance in the U.S., France, and Switzerland.
"Sequans will benefit tremendously from Deborah's exceptional experience as we enter our next phase of growth," said Georges Karam, Sequans CEO. "We have developed total solutions for both fixed and mobile WiMAX and we are now looking at phase two and beyond. Deborah is experienced in the financial management of both public and private technology companies at various stages, and has managed large acquisitions and public offerings for leading technology companies. Her skill in managing rapid growth and international expansion are a perfect fit for us at this time."
"I am very pleased to join Sequans, a company with demonstrated technology leadership and significant potential and opportunity for growth," said Choate. "Sequans has done an incredible job developing and bringing to market three generations of WiMAX technologies, the latest of which is at least a generation ahead of the competition. And, they’ve done so extremely efficiently with a relatively small amount of capital. I am looking forward to working with Georges Karam and the rest of the Sequans management team on new product strategies and expansion."
Choate joins Sequans from Esmertec where she was CFO for the last two years. At Esmertec she helped lead the company's acquisition of Cellicium SA and planned and executed a significant debt restructuring. Before Esmertec, Choate was a VP of finance at Platinum Equity Advisors, LLC, and prior to that, was CFO of Wavecom where she led the simultaneous dual-listing of Wavecom on NASDAQ and the Nouveau Marche. Earlier in her career, Choate spent 14 years at Ernst & Young, filling increasingly responsible positions, culminating in her promotion to partner in 1997.
