John Kispert is the new CEO and Director of Spansion

Flash memory maker Spansion has appointed John Kispert as chief executive officer and member of the board of directors.

"As the new CEO, in addition to the strategic and restructuring initiatives, I plan to create a winning strategy for the company that leverages Spansion's market leadership, rich intellectual property portfolio, and strong customer relationships," said Kispert. "My first priority is to ensure that Spansion capitalizes on the company's tremendous strengths to bring value to our stakeholders."

Kispert's appointment at Spansion follows the resignation of president and CEO Bertrand Cambou.

Prior to joining Spansion, Kispert served as the president and COO of KLA-Tencor, a semiconductor equipment leader. Before joining KLA-Tencor in 1995, Kispert held several senior management positions with IBM. He received his bachelor's degree in Political Science from Grinnell College and his MBA from the University of California, Los Angeles.