Micron CEO Appleton Guided Company Through Ups and Downs

Micron Technology

Steve Appleton became Micron's CEO in 1994.

Boise-based Micron Technology CEO Steve Appleton died this morning in a single-engine plane crash at the Boise airport.  Appleton was 51.

Steve Appleton joined Micron Technology in 1983.  He held a series of positions including production manager, director of manufacturing and vice president of manufacturing.  According to his company bio, Appleton was appointed president and chief operating officer of Micron in 1991.  In 1994 Appleton became CEO.

Appleton has served on various boards including the board of directors for the Semiconductor Industry Association and National Semiconductor, Inc. He was also a member of the World Semiconductor Council and served on the Idaho Business Council. He received a bachelor of business administration degree from Boise State University in 1982 and an honorary doctorate from Boise State University in 2007. 

Micron Technology is one of the world’s leading providers of advanced semiconductor solutions. The company was founded in October 1978 in Boise, Idaho.  Micron is one of Idaho’s largest employers with more than 5,000 employees.  The company went through a series of layoffs since 2005, when it had nearly 10,000 employees in Idaho.

According to the company’s website, Micron has about 20,000 employees worldwide including locations in; California, Virginia, Canada, Puerto Rico, Italy, Scotland, Israel, Paris, Germany, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, China, India and Malaysia.

Boise Mayor David Bieter says Appleton was a dynamic leader, guiding the company through prosperous and difficult times.  “He was a philanthropist and a great friend to Boise. He will be remembered as a major force in Idaho history — a man who transformed our state’s economy by redefining what is possible for Idaho business,” says Bieter.  “Idaho’s future will be brighter because of Steve Appleton.  My heart goes out to his family and the employees of Micron around the world.”