Emcore Corp. of Somerset, N.J., a provider of compound semiconductor-based components and subsystems for the broadband, fiber optic, satellite and terrestrial solar power markets, today announced that Hong Q. Hou, vice president and general manager of Emcore’s Ortel Div., has been named company president, COO and director. Hou joined Emcore in March 1998, helped start Emcore's Photovoltaics Div., managed the Fiber Optics Div. and headed the Orel Div. From 1995 to 1998 he was on the technical staff at Sandia National Laboratories. Prior to that, he conducted research on high-speed optoelectronics devices at AT&T Bell Laboratories. He has a PhD in electrical engineering from the University of California, San Diego, has published over 150 journal articles and holds seven US patents. Emcore also announced that current CEO Reuben F. Richards Jr. will become board chairman at Emcore’s annual shareholder meeting in 2008, and current chairman Thomas Russell will become chairman emeritus and lead director. Hou has been offered the CEO position after Richards becomes chairman. Scott T. Massie, an executive vice president and COO, has resigned, effective at the end of December. Emcore also announced that Richard A. Stall has resigned his seat on the board, but will continue to serve as Emcore's chief technology officer, executive vice president and general manager of its Solar Power Div. In connection with the changes announced today, the board amended Emcore's bylaws to separate the positions of president and CEO and to allow a corporate officer to hold the title of chairman following the company’s 2008 annual meeting. The change gives the chairman responsibility for the company's strategy and policy while the CEO will be responsible for the company's business matters.