Qualcomm Names Dr. Baaziz Achour as CTO

Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. has announced the appointment of Dr. Baaziz Achour as its new Chief Technology Officer, effective February 3, 2025, succeeding Dr. James Thompson, who is retiring after 33 years with the company. Currently serving as Deputy CTO, Dr. Achour brings extensive expertise in wireless communications, computing, and AI, having contributed to nearly every generation of wireless technology during his tenure at Qualcomm since joining as a Systems Engineer in 1993. He played a pivotal role in the accelerated launch of 5G and will now lead Qualcomm’s evolution toward 6G. Dr. Achour holds advanced degrees in Electrical Engineering from Tufts University and has 24 U.S. patents to his name. Dr. Thompson’s legacy includes expanding Qualcomm’s technology portfolio to drive leadership in mobile, AI, and new markets such as automotive and XR.