Board of Directors

Nir Merry joined Digital Dynamics (DDI) as President & CEO in January 2021 and was elected to the DDI Board of Directors in March 2021. In December 2023, he was installed as Chairman of the Board. With more than 30 years of leadership experience in the semiconductor equipment and HVAC automation industries, Nir brings a wealth of expertise in driving innovation and operational excellence.

Before joining DDI, Nir held several senior executive roles at Applied Materials, including Vice President and Head of the Common Solutions Group (CSG), where he led Applied’s common platform engineering efforts, and Head of Front-End Products (FEP) Platform Engineering. He also served for ten years as the leader of Applied’s Engineering Leadership Board (ELB).

Nir is an inventor with over 35 patents across semiconductor equipment, medical devices, and HVAC automation. He earned both his MS and BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.

Jeffrey Benzing is a seasoned Semiconductor Technology executive. He served in a multitude of technology and operational leadership roles during his tenure at Novellus Systems Inc (acquired by Lam research in 2012) including Chief Business Officer, Principal Financial Officer, and EVP of multiple Business Groups and head of Systems Development. He has served on the Boards of multiple technology companies and on the advisory board to San Jose State University College of Engineering. He holds an MSME degree from Stanford University and BSME from University of California at Berkeley.

Rick Dalton is a Managing Director and Senior Advisor to the Global Technology Group at Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, an international investment banking and financial services firm. Rick’s career in investment banking has extended more than 30 years during which he advised on a wide variety of domestic and international mergers, acquisitions, restructuring and financing transactions. Prior to entering investment banking Rick practiced public accounting and held both Certified Public Accountant and Certified Management Accountant designations. Rick earned a BBA in Accountancy from Boise State University.

Ron Hadar is the CEO of Vibe Imaging Analytics, focusing on digital inspection and analytics for agriculture and food markets. He founded Tigo Energy, a smart solar module company, in 2007 and was president until 2015. Tigo was listed on Nasdaq in 2023. Previously, as VP and General Manager at MKS Instruments, he integrated six acquisitions to form the control and information division. Ron also founded Tenta Technology and Tega Systems, acquired by MKS in 2002. He has served on various technology startup boards, was a member of the Agtech Committee of the California Israel Chamber of Commerce, advised Applied Materials’ APG Pharma unit, and assisted private equity firms in assessing portfolio companies. Holder of over 30 U.S. patents, Ron lives in Capitola, CA, with his wife and children and supports education and entrepreneurship in his community.

Drs. Van Den Hoek currently serves as Chairman of Jiaco Instruments BV in The Netherlands, as a member of the board of directors of Digital Dynamics, Inc. and as a member of the advisory board of Innovent Technologies, LLC, in the USA. He is a senior Associate at TD Shepherd & Co. B.V. in the Netherlands. In addition, he is an advisor to several high-tech startup companies in California. From 2020 till 2023, he was a member of the Board of Directors of 4DS Memory, ltd. From 2011 till 2017, he was a member of the Board of Directors of Cypress Semiconductor Corporation and from 2004 till 2011 a member of Cypress’ Technical Advisory Board. From 2015 till 2017, he was a member of the Board of Directors of Intermolecular and from 2001 till 2011 he was a member of the Board of Directors of Semiconductor Research Corporation.

Robert J. Smith is a retired financial services professional with over 40 years of experience in business planning, financial advising, and local board leadership. As a successful private wealth advisor and award-winning Ameriprise franchise owner, Robert provided strategic financial guidance to small business owners, corporate executives, and retirees. A long-time business consultant and confidant of Digital Dynamics’ founder James Jerde, Robert has been a vital part of the company’s history and growth. He continues to contribute to Digital Dynamics as a valued board member since 2015.