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November 04, 2024

Meet Kevin Caffey: The new SVP of Quality at Marvell

By Mary Gorges, Content Manager, Talent Branding, Marvell

Kevin Caffey, Senior Vice President of Quality, Marvell

When Kevin Caffey joined Marvell as Senior Vice President of Quality four months ago, he brought not only his extensive experience but also a unique career perspective. Now based in San Diego after his tenure at Qualcomm, Kevin is setting down roots at Marvell. His role frequently takes him up and down the California coast and across the globe. With 40% of his organization located in Asia, he recently returned from visits to Taiwan and Singapore to meet with key suppliers and engage with his team.

“I didn’t think I’d ever leave Qualcomm,” Kevin shares, reflecting on his decision to join Marvell. “But the opportunity here was too compelling to pass up. I’ve always been driven by a passion for quality, and Marvell is perfectly positioned to lead the next wave of technological innovation–especially with AI.”
 
Kevin has held top Quality leadership roles at some of the world’s leading tech companies, building an impressive record along the way:

  • Marvell, SVP of Quality – Since June 2024
  • Qualcomm, VP of Quality & Reliability – 12 years
  • NVIDIA, VP of Quality & Reliability – Nearly 3 years
  • Semtech, VP of Quality – 5 years
  • LSI Logic, Worldwide Director of Reliability – 6 years

“I’ve seen the evolution of the semiconductor industry from personal computers to smartphones to AI. Being at the center of these changes has been incredible. When I joined NVIDIA, the smartphone era was just beginning. Now, with AI, I knew I didn’t want to just watch from the sidelines–I wanted to be in the thick of it,” Kevin recalls.
 
What drew Kevin to Marvell wasn’t just the promise of cutting-edge technology, but the company's collaborative culture. “The executive team at Marvell has a strong, clear strategic vision, and they communicate like a cohesive unit. That’s rare and crucial when you’re leading a Quality organization,” Kevin says.
 
With Marvell being the fourth company where Kevin has led a Quality organization, he brings a wealth of experience that spans across the most vital aspects of quality control. “I love the breadth of responsibilities that come with a Quality role. You get to see a product’s entire lifecycle, from inception to end-of-life, and that makes the role endlessly fascinating.”
 
His role at Marvell touches on four major functions:

  • Customer-Facing Support: “Our customers need timely, accurate information about our products. And when problems arise, they need our help to solve them.”
  • Supplier Quality: “Quality starts with our suppliers. We ensure they produce the high-grade materials and products we need. Building strong partnerships with them is key to our success.”
  • Internal Quality Management Systems: “I oversee our internal processes, including ISO audits and certifications, to make sure we’re always upholding the highest standards.”
  • Reliability of Product Lines: “Ensuring the long-term reliability of our product lines is one of the most critical measures of quality in this industry.”

At Marvell, Kevin’s focus is on leading the transition to a more AI data center driven strategy, a shift that’s redefining the company’s product lines. “I was brought in at a time when we are pivoting towards data centers, which has significantly changed what our products look like and impacts how we approach quality,” Kevin explains. “This shift has placed a strain on our existing systems and processes, requiring us to redirect resources to focus on very large, often highly customized solutions. As a result, we need to support a handful of very large, powerful customers who have different requirements than some of our historical customer base.”
 
Kevin is also inspired by Marvell’s distinct corporate values, particularly its commitment to helping each other. “I’ve never seen that as a formal value at another semiconductor or tech company. It creates a humanistic, people-friendly environment. It also aligns with what I want from myself and my team. The quality organization is a support function, and I want to be a part of helping others achieve their goals.”

With his desk now firmly planted at Marvell, Kevin Caffey is ready to help lead the company into an exciting new era of innovation and quality. In his time outside of work, Kevin enjoys spending time with his family, running and surfing.

Kevin Caffey, Senior Vice President of Quality, Marvell Kevin Caffey, Senior Vice President of Quality, Marvell

 

Tags: What Makes Marvell

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