Rich Templeton assumed his current duties at Texas Instruments (TI) in May 2004. He also serves on the company’s board of directors, to which he was elected in July 2003.

From April 2000 through April 2004, Templeton was chief operating officer of TI. He was executive vice president of the company and president of TI's semiconductor business from June 1996 through April 2004.

Templeton is credited with helping to define and execute TI’s strategy to focus on semiconductors for signal processing. Operationally, he guided TI during the worst downturn in semiconductor history, while maintaining the company’s strategic investments in R&D and advanced manufacturing.

Templeton joined the company in 1980 after earning a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Union College in New York. He spent his operational career in the company's semiconductor business, beginning in sales.

In addition to his TI duties, Templeton is Chairman of the Semiconductor Industry Association, and is a member of the Business Roundtable and the Dallas Chief Executive Roundtable.