Qualcomm appoints Wassim Chourbaji to lead EMEA operations

Qualcomm has appointed longtime executive Wassim Chourbaji as senior vice president and president of its EMEA business, as the semiconductor specialist eyes further growth in the region.

Effective immediately, Chourbaji takes responsibility for leading Qualcomm’s strategy across the EMEA region and advancing the company’s strategic priorities across its various business areas.

He steps into the role following more than 20 years at Qualcomm, during which time he held a variety of leadership roles across the company.

Most recently, he served as president of Qualcomm’s Middle East and Africa (MEA) business, while also leading its government affairs organization across EMEA.

In an announcement, Akash Palkhiwala, Qualcomm’s chief financial officer and chief operating officer, said Chourbaji’s combination of leadership experience and industry knowledge will be a key asset as the firm targets further growth across EMEA.

“EMEA is an important region for Qualcomm, and we remain committed to investing in its long-term growth and success, with Wassim’s leadership experience, strategic vision and ability to build strong partnerships across industry and government continuing to be instrumental to Qualcomm’s success,” he explained.

San Diego-headquartered Qualcomm develops semiconductor and computing technologies spanning artificial intelligence, connectivity, and low-power computing.

In recent years, the company has increasingly positioned AI as a central facet of its technology strategy as it expands its traditional smartphone-centric business into areas such as automotive, PCs, industrial applications, and edge computing.

With Chourbaji’s appointment, Qualcomm’s EMEA business now enters a new phase of leadership. He succeeds Enrico Salvatori, who has decided to retire from Qualcomm following more than two decades leading its EMEA business and over 25 years with the company.

With immediate effect, Salvatori will assume the role of chairman and will continue to oversee Qualcomm’s EMEA Automotive business until his retirement date in June 2027.

“I would like to thank Enrico for his extraordinary leadership and contributions over the past 25 years,” Palkhiwala added. “He has built a strong organization, expanded our presence across key industries and fostered deep relationships with customers, partners and governments throughout the region.”

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