Mixed-signal integrated circuit maker Silicon Laboratories Inc. of Austin, Texas, announced the promotion of Mark Thompson to vice president and general manager of microcontroller (MCU) products, replacing Derrell Coker, who retired at the end of 2008. Thompson joined Silicon Labs in 2000 and served as director of marketing for the company’s wireline products and then as director of marketing for broadcast products before being promoted to general manager of broadcast audio products in 2007. Before joining Silicon Labs, Thompson worked at BMC Software and Freescale/Motorola, where, during his seven-year tenure, he held a variety of engineering and marketing roles, all pertaining to 8-bit and 16-bit embedded MCUs. Silicon Labs CEO and president Necip Sayiner said that the company's MCU business has grown 30 to 40 percent per year since 2003. Tyson Tuttle, vice president of broadcast products, will become interim general manager of broadcast audio products until a new GM is selected.