Management

Mark Thirsk, Managing Partner

Mark Thirsk has over 20 years experience in the chemical industry working with a variety of materials and processes utilized in wafer fabrication. In addition to his knowledge of electronic materials and manufacturing, he has also been involved in economic and business forecasting, strategic planning, technical marketing and M&A.  Having been on both sides of the fence as a user and seller of materials and equipment, as well as being intimately involved with major materials manufacturers, Mark is well placed to bring clarity and insight into understanding markets from both a technical and commercial perspective.

Previous to Linx, Mark was Senior Marketing Manager at Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials, a specialty materials company headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he was responsible for strategic planning and new business development. Additionally, Mark has served on the SEMI Chemicals and Gases Manufacturers Group (CGMG) since 1999, acting as Chairman between 2001 and 2003.

Mark has worked in the UK, Germany, Belgium, and the USA, and has traveled extensively in Asia. He is fluent in both English and German.  Mark has authored several recent articles and papers published in and presented at:

Semiconductor Fabtech
Strategic Materials Conference

Mark holds an Honours B.Sc. in Metallurgy and Materials Science from Birmingham University in Birmingham, UK and an MBA from The Open University Business School in Milton Keynes, UK.

Michael A Corbett, Managing Partner

Mike Corbett has been involved with semiconductor processes and materials consumed in both front end of the line (FEOL) and back end of the line (BEOL) semiconductor operations for 15 years. Mike has experience in many semiconductor technologies including compound semiconductors, transistor/device construction and fabrication, semiconductor interconnect materials and processes, and device packaging. He is also involved in other electronics-focused areas including:  printed circuit boards, flat panel displays, optoelectronics, photovoltaics and advanced battery technologies.

Mike has developed programs to commercialize novel technologies, identify growth opportunities, complete M&A, conduct strategic planning and develop cost-of-ownership (COO) assessments.  Through these engagements, he has developed a detailed understanding of the semiconductor industry’s structure and trends as well as contacts at key equipment suppliers, consumables producers and semiconductor fabricators.

Mike was also Chairman of the Chemicals and Gases Manufacturers Group (CGMG) and is an active member of SEMI, IEEE, MRS, and AVS. Mike has authored several recent articles and papers published in and presented at:

Solid State Technology
Semiconductor Manufacturing Magazine
Strategic Materials Conference
Microelectronics Materials Strategy Symposium

Mr. Corbett holds a BSEE from Villanova University in Pennsylvania and an MBA in finance from Seton Hall University in New Jersey.