OLATHE, KS (BRAIN) — Clifton Pemble will become president and CEO of Garmin Ltd. on Jan. 1, succeeding co-founder Dr. Min Kao, the company announced.
Pemble joined Garmin in 1989 as one of the company’s first engineers, has been serving as president and chief operating officer since October 2007, and has been a member of the Garmin board of directors since August 2004. Dr. Kao will assume the role of executive chairman and will continue as the chairman of the board.
“One indicator of an enduring company is the strength of its succession plan,” said Kao. “Cliff has been instrumental in establishing Garmin as a global leader in every market we serve. I firmly believe that he is equipped to lead us into the future with skills and knowledge that encompass the breadth and depth of the entire business. I am grateful to Cliff for his years of unselfish service and his willingness to accept this new role. I am also pleased with the depth of the executive management team which will be serving under Cliff’s leadership.”
Kao's first name serves as the second syllable of the company's name; the first syllable came from co-founder Gary Burrell's first name.
