Sehat Sutardja, co-founder of Marvell Technology and a pioneering figure in the semiconductor industry, has passed away at the age of 63, according to a statement from Alphawave Semi, where he served on the board. His wife, Weili Dai, will assume his position as interim executive director.

Sutardja, born in Jakarta, Indonesia in 1961, co-founded Marvell Technology in 1995 with his brother, Pantas Sutardja, and wife, Weili Dai. Under his leadership, Marvell grew into one of the world’s largest chipmakers, with its first major success coming from a specialized read channel for hard drives. Despite initial skepticism, the technology reduced power consumption and costs while improving performance, establishing Marvell as a key partner for leading tech companies.

Beyond his role at Marvell, Sutardja was an inventor with over 440 patents and was recognized by the Silicon Valley Intellectual Property Law Association as Inventor of the Year. He was also named a Fellow of IEEE and received the Indonesian Diaspora Lifetime Achievement Award for Global Pioneering and Innovation.

In addition to his contributions to semiconductor technology, Sutardja was known for his humility and generosity, mentoring many in the industry. After leaving Marvell in 2016, he founded Singapore-based chipmaker Silicon Box in 2021. His passing marks the end of an era, and his legacy will continue through the innovations and company he helped build.

Marvell Technology issued a statement honoring Sutardja as a visionary leader and brilliant engineer who helped shape the modern semiconductor landscape. "Sehat’s loss will be felt globally across his portfolio of technology companies and philanthropic endeavors," read the statement from Alphawave Semi, reflecting his broad impact across the industry.

Forbes had recently estimated Sutardja’s net worth at $1.3 billion.