Mentor list / Mentor bio
Overview
Sir Peter Bonfield currently serves as a Non‑Executive Director of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), a role he has held for 23 years, and Mentor Graphics, offering strategic counsel to two of the world’s leading semiconductor technology firms.
He was the founding Chair of NXP Semiconductors plc (2006-2023), guiding the Dutch–U.S. spin‑out from Philips to become a global leader in automotive, secure, and semiconductor technologies. His 17-year tenure steered NXP through transformative acquisitions and market positioning.
Before that, Sir Peter led major technology firms as CEO of BT Group (1996-2002), during which he navigated the company through deregulation and the internet era, and as CEO of ICL plc (1981-1995), guiding the British mainframe and computing business through a complex period of restructuring.
A foundation in engineering fuels his insight: his early work at Texas Instruments (1966–1981) encompassed semiconductor process innovation, securing patents, and laid the groundwork for his enduring passion for innovation and operational excellence.
He brings deep cross-sector expertise in:
• Semiconductors & electronics engineering – strategic oversight in chip design, manufacturing, and secure systems
• Corporate governance & board stewardship – chairing and advising global tech companies during phases of scale, spin‑outs, and transformation
• Digital infrastructure & telecommunications strategy – leading ICL’s keyframe product strategy and BT’s shift to open market competition
• M&A & structural resilience – steering major rights issues, carve‑outs and international deals with institutional discipline
A Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and recipient of a knighthood (1996) and CBE (1988), Sir Peter has earned 11 honorary doctorates and awards, including the FT’s Outstanding Director accolade in 2019. His board and advisory roles span leading institutions, including Imagination Technologies, and Loughborough University. A former engineer and inventor, he remains deeply committed to helping leaders remain relevant amid rapidly evolving technology landscapes.
PDF Profile
download pdf profileMajor Career Roles
NXP Semiconductors NV
Founding Chair
BT plc
CEO
ICL plc
Chair/CEO
TSMC
Independent Director and Audit Committee Chair
Sony Group Corp.
Independent Director
AstraZeneca plc
Senior Independent Director
Ericsson
Independent Director
Other Career Highlights
GlobalLogic Inc.
Chair
Mentor Graphics
Advisory Board member
Citibank International Ltd
Advisory Board member
Loughborough University
Chair of Council and Senior Pro Chancellor
Darktrace plc
Non-Executive Director
EU-Japan Business Round Table
Member
European Round Table Steering Group
Member
Fujitsu Services
Deputy Chair
Standard Telephones & Cables Ltd
Deputy CEO
UK Ministry of Justice and UK Department for Constitutional Affairs
Independent Non-Executive Director
BICC plc
Director