Sassine Ghazi Wiki

Published by Daniel Nenni on 07-13-2025 at 3:30 pm
Last updated on 07-13-2025 at 3:30 pm

Sassine and Aart Synopsys Wiki SemiWiki

Full Name: Sassine Ghazi
Nationality: Lebanese-American
Occupation: Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Synopsys, Inc.
Previous Roles: President and Chief Operating Officer (COO), EVP & GM Design Group
Industry: Electronic Design Automation (EDA), Semiconductors
Years Active: 1998–present
Known For: Leading Synopsys, leadership in chip design automation, successor to Aart de Geus

Overview

Sassine Ghazi is a Lebanese-American business executive, technologist, and the Chief Executive Officer of Synopsys, Inc., one of the world’s leading Electronic Design Automation (EDA) companies. He assumed the role of CEO in January 2024, following the retirement of Synopsys co-founder Aart de Geus, who transitioned to Executive Chair of the Board.

Ghazi is widely recognized for his deep technical expertise, strategic business leadership, and visionary approach to scaling chip design automation and semiconductor IP across AI, HPC, automotive, and 5G markets. His leadership comes during a period of rapid transformation and convergence between silicon design, software security, and AI-driven design methodologies.

Early Life and Education

While specific details about Ghazi’s early life and education have not been widely published, he is known to have:

  • Immigrated to the United States from Lebanon

  • Earned a degree in Electrical Engineering, believed to be from a U.S.-based institution

  • Developed a strong foundation in semiconductor physics, IC design, and EDA tools

Career at Synopsys

1998–2010: Engineering and Technical Management

Ghazi joined Synopsys in 1998 and quickly rose through the engineering ranks. He played a key role in:

  • IC design and verification tool development

  • Deployment of synthesis and implementation flows for large SoC customers

  • Leading customer engagements with Tier-1 semiconductor clients

2011–2019: Executive Leadership in EDA

During this period, Ghazi was promoted to EVP and General Manager of the Design Group, where he oversaw:

  • Synopsys’ flagship design platforms including Fusion Compiler, Design Compiler, IC Compiler, and PrimeTime

  • Integration of AI/ML into EDA toolchains

  • Adoption of cloud-based design acceleration and design-technology co-optimization (DTCO)

2020–2023: President and COO

In 2020, Ghazi became President and Chief Operating Officer of Synopsys. His responsibilities included:

  • Overseeing global business operations and R&D

  • Driving expansion into automotive, AI, security, and software integrity

  • M&A activity and ecosystem partnerships with foundries (e.g., TSMC, Samsung) and hyperscalers

Under his leadership, Synopsys saw:

  • Accelerated revenue growth

  • Deeper penetration into advanced nodes (5nm, 3nm, 2nm)

  • Major wins in the automotive and AI semiconductor markets

2024–Present: CEO of Synopsys

Ghazi became CEO on January 1, 2024, after the retirement of Aart de Geus, who had served as CEO since Synopsys’ founding in 1986.

As CEO, Ghazi leads Synopsys at a critical time when:

  • AI is transforming chip and software design

  • EDA and software security are converging

  • Open-source and custom silicon are reshaping the competitive landscape

His strategic focus includes:

  • AI-driven design automation

  • Expansion of Silicon-to-Systems and Silicon-as-a-Service

  • Synopsys’ growth into adjacent markets like software supply chain security, automotive safety, and IP licensing

Leadership Style and Vision

Sassine Ghazi is known for his:

  • Technical credibility with engineers and customers

  • Collaborative leadership and ability to execute on strategic roadmaps

  • Global outlook, with a focus on U.S.-Asia-Europe semiconductor cooperation

  • Commitment to innovation and inclusive growth

He has been an outspoken advocate for:

  • AI-native EDA platforms

  • Digital twin technology

  • Workforce development in STEM and semiconductor engineering

Industry Influence

Under Ghazi’s leadership, Synopsys continues to be a key enabler for:

  • Advanced foundry ecosystems (TSMC, Intel Foundry, Samsung)

  • Custom silicon from hyperscalers like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft

  • Safety-critical and mission-critical SoCs in aerospace, automotive, and medical devices

Ghazi is also actively involved in:

  • Industry groups like SEMI, Accellera, and GSA (Global Semiconductor Alliance)

  • U.S. semiconductor policy discussions related to the CHIPS and Science Act

Honors and Recognition

While Ghazi maintains a relatively low public profile compared to his predecessor, he is widely respected within the EDA and semiconductor industries as:

  • A transformational leader

  • A bridge between engineering and business

  • A key voice in semiconductor design enablement

Personal Life

Ghazi is known to be private about his personal life. He is multilingual, has strong ties to the international engineering community, and has spoken about his gratitude for opportunities in the U.S. technology sector. He is also an advocate for mentorship and diversity in engineering.

Conclusion

Sassine Ghazi is a pivotal figure in the next era of EDA, chip design, and systems innovation. As the CEO of Synopsys, he is navigating the company through a period of profound technological change, ensuring it remains at the forefront of enabling semiconductor breakthroughs, secure software, and AI-accelerated design automation for the world’s most critical technologies.

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