Indian American executive Avi Avula has been appointed as the President and CEO of Methode Electronics Inc., a Chicago-based international engineering company. The effective date for Avula’s new role is January 29, 2024, following the retirement of Donald W Duda. The transition plan involves a three-month collaboration period between Duda and Avula, with Duda then serving as a strategic consultant for the subsequent nine months.
Avula, with over 17 years of experience in the electronics industry, currently serves as the Vice President of Strategy for DuPont’s Electronics & Industrial (E&I) business. Before DuPont, he held various roles with applied materials, including leading their business and technology development for advanced packaging in Singapore.
His diverse background also includes being the global business director for Displays, overseeing the OLED and flexible display business. Additionally, Avula has worked on business, operations, and product strategies across different sectors in the US and Europe during his time at Booz & Co. His experience extends to the semiconductor fabrication, electronics packaging, and assembly industries in both the US and Asia.
In response to his appointment, Avula expressed excitement about joining Methode, emphasizing the company’s strong foundation. He sees opportunities in Methode’s position in growing markets for lighting, power distribution, and sensor solutions and looks forward to contributing to the company’s future growth and performance.
Walter J Aspatore, Methode’s board chairman, welcomed Avula, highlighting his proven executive leadership and transformative manufacturing experiences. Aspatore anticipates Avula’s strategic, technical, and transformative skills will drive Methode’s innovation and growth initiatives, creating value for shareholders.
