HERNDON, VA -- Jim McElroy, the chief executive of the International Electronics Manufacturing Initiative, is set to retire. A search for a successor has been launched.

McElroy has been executive director and CEO of the trade group since 1996, joining the organization from MicroModule Systems, a spinoff of Digital Equipment Corp. An engineer with experience in international operations and management, McElroy spent 15 years at DEC and also worked for RCA's military computer group.

On his watch, iNEMI flourished. Membership grew, the organization expanded internationally, and it helped to solve some of the critical industry problems that other trade associations failed to tackle. It now boasts 65 members, twice what it had when he came aboard, and has offices in Asia and Europe.

McElroy is planning to step down this year. In a statement, iNEMI said its board is currently interviewing for a new CEO and McElroy will continue in his current role until his replacement is found.

While iNEMI's first few years primarily were spent developing roadmaps, the organization under McElroy expanded its scope and project portfolio, and now focuses on the environment, miniaturization and medical electronics.    

“This has been a great job,” said McElroy. “I have had the opportunity to meet and work with the ‘movers and shakers’ as well as the behind-the-scenes technologists from a diverse range of companies and organizations in the electronics industry. I believe strongly in the importance of an organization like iNEMI and in the work we are doing. At 64, however, I’m ready to pursue more non-work related interests.”

McElroy says he expects there to be a period of overlap between him and the new CEO and that he will continue to work with iNEMI on a part-time basis as needed after the transition occurs.

“iNEMI’s success requires great vision, broad technical understanding of a wide range of issues and topics, knowledge of industry issues and gaps, excellent communication and teamwork skills, great marketing and salesmanship and, perhaps most important, a high level of energy to convince companies to work on a common goal,” said iNEMI chairman Nasser Grayeli. “It is a tough job, considering the range of cultural differences among member companies and their ever-changing areas of interest. I do not think we could have had a better person than Jim to do the job in the last 13 years."