Super Micro Computer named Mark Long as its new chief financial officer on Wednesday, nearly two years after the company pledged to replace longtime CFO David Weigand. The appointment comes amid ongoing fallout from a $2.5 billion smuggling case involving Supermicro hardware. Long, 59, previously served as CFO and chief strategy officer at Western Digital and runs Prime Impact Capital, an investment and advisory firm, according to fortune.com.
Long’s hiring follows an independent board investigation that led Supermicro to seek new financial leadership. His experience includes co-CEO and CFO roles at a SPAC that raised $300 million before merging with Beijing-based Cheche Technology in 2023. The company’s ties to Nvidia and Elon Musk’s SpaceX add complexity to the situation, especially after the March arrest of Supermicro co-founder Yih-Shyan “Wally” Liaw in the smuggling case involving export-controlled Nvidia chips, fortune.com reported.
The appointment aims to restore investor confidence amid the legal and reputational challenges facing Supermicro. The smuggling case has cast a shadow over the hardware maker, which is closely linked to major tech players Nvidia and SpaceX’s xAI. Long’s track record at Western Digital and his tech investment background are seen as assets to navigate the company through this turbulent period, according to fortune.com.
Mark Long’s appointment is effective immediately, marking a critical leadership change for Supermicro as it addresses the aftermath of the smuggling allegations. The company has not disclosed further details on its financial strategy or legal responses since the indictment of its co-founder in March, fortune.com noted.