Imagination Technologies Group has announced that its chief executive officer, Hossein Yassaie, has been awarded knighthood in her majesty’s New Year Honours 2013. The award was given in recognition of his services to technology and innovation.

“I am absolutely delighted and deeply humbled to receive such prestigious recognition. This distinguished honour means a great deal to me both personally and professionally. I have always wanted to make a real difference by what I do and I see this honour not only as a major recognition for past effort but as a real encouragement for the future,” said Mr. Yassaie.

Hossein Yassaie is the chief executive officer of Imagination Technologies, which designs and licences key technologies used by the world’s leading semiconductor and consumer electronics companies in some of the most significant, iconic and exciting consumer electronics products.

Imagination Technologies which is listed on the London stock exchange, has a market capitalisation of over £1 billion ($1.6319 billion), employs more than 1300 people worldwide, and develops and licenses key technologies used in over one billion products, from the most advanced smart phones to tablets, televisions and digital radios.

Mr. Yassaie worked for Inmos and ST Microelectronics before joining Imagination Technologies as chief technology officer in 1992. Hossein Yassaie refocused the business on advanced technology development and created Imagination Technologies’ successful silicon intellectual property (IP) business model. He became Imagination Technologies’ CEO in June 1998.

A British national, Hossein gained a BSc degree (1979) and PhD degree (1982) from Birmingham university in electronics and communication engineering as well as serving as a research fellow.

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