Thomas C.k. Yuen

Biography

Thomas C. K. Yuen was appointed to the Board in May 2017. Mr. Yuen’s stellar career is exemplified by his global entrepreneurial experience and extraordinary leadership. He co-founded Irvine-based AST Research, Inc. (AST) in 1981. AST was an early pioneer of the computer industry, and the company has been referred to as “the flagship of innovation in the PC era.” Mr. Yuen served as AST’s Co-Chairman and Chief Operating Officer from August 1987 to June 1992. Under his leadership, AST became a Fortune 500 company in 1991, and its stock was named the “Best Performing NASDAQ Stock” of that year. Mr. Yuen left AST in 1992 and focused his efforts on investing in new projects. Mr. Yuen served in various engineering and project management positions with Hughes Aircraft Company, Sperry Univac and Computer Automation. Later in his career, Mr. Yuen became Chairman and CEO of SRS Labs, a world leader in audio and voice technology. Currently, Mr. Yuen is Chairman and CEO of PrimeGen Biotech, a private cell therapy company he founded in 2002.

Research Interest

In 1988 and 1991, the Computer Reseller News Magazine named Mr. Yuen one of the top 25 executives of the computer industry. In 1997, he received the Director of the Year Award from the Orange County Foundation of Corporate Directors. Mr. Yuen is the recipient of several awards from the University of California, Irvine (UCI), including the UCI Medal in 1990, the Outstanding Engineering Alumni Award in 1987 and the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1986. These accolades will soon culminate in Mr. Yuen receiving the prestigious UCI Extraordinarious Award for his exemplary career in business and his philanthropic and volunteer activities. As further testament to his outstanding achievements, Mr. Yuen is the first of UCI’s 150,000 alumni to receive both the UCI Medal and the Extraordinarious Award.