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Biography of Michael Northwood Chairman & Founder

Michael Northwood has had a long and successful career associated with semiconductor and electronics design companies in Europe. Initially he was involved in engineering design and technical management, then in marketing and selling EDA tools to European companies and latterly in managing European Operations for several American EDA companies.

After University, Northwood began his technical career in 1959 as a design engineer with Philips developing circuitry and hybrids for core memories. He then joined Muirheads in charge of the Research Labs working on laser and facsimile technology and then Plessey Semiconductors in charge of the team designing automotive ICs and CAD support techniques.

Northwood moved into sales, marketing and operational management firstly with Calma-GE in 1973, then as Vice President Europe in the 1980’s with Daisy Systems Inc., Caeco Inc. and Cadence Design Systems, and in the 1990’s with Quickturn Systems Inc., Intergraph (Veribest) and Viewlogic Systems. During this period, he gained the reputation of having unparalleled knowledge and experience of the EDA market in Europe and demonstrated an ability to generate record sales growth whilst developing very successful European sales and support teams and growing complex European and country organizations.

In 1996, Northwood founded MM Solutions Limited, to offer a new and flexible selling model to companies wishing to succeed in Europe, based on the vast experience he had gained from his employment with other companies. He has attracted several previous colleagues to join him in this venture to offer an entrepreneurial solution to entrepreneurial companies.

Northwood holds a Physics (Hons) degree from London University, with CPhys and MInstP postgraduate elections. He is a member of the Institute of Directors and holds directorships with several companies and organizations.