DIGITIMES ASIA: Exit of TSMC's star procurement VP raises industry eyebrows

Rhea-AI Summary

TSMC (NYSE:TSM) announced the unexpected resignation of Vanessa Lee, Vice President of Materials Management, effective July 13, 2025. Lee, who joined TSMC in 2022 and became the youngest VP in company history, is departing for personal reasons after taking a one-month extended leave.

Lee's notable background includes procurement roles at Apple, Alphabet, and Qualcomm. During her tenure at TSMC, she established crucial supplier forecasting systems and helped the company navigate supply chain disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cliff Hou, Senior Vice President and Co-Chief Operating Officer, will assume materials management responsibilities following her departure.

Positive

• Lee established effective supplier forecasting systems and improved supply chain transparency
• Successfully managed supply chain disruptions during COVID-19
• Smooth transition plan with senior executive Cliff Hou taking over responsibilities

Negative

• Unexpected departure of key executive responsible for procurement and supplier relations
• Potential internal management frictions suggested by industry sources
• Loss of executive with valuable experience from major tech companies like Apple and Google

TAIPEI, July 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Vanessa Lee, Vice President of Materials Management at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), has drawn industry attention with her unexpected resignation. One month after taking an extended leave, TSMC announced on July 11 that Lee has stepped down for personal reasons and will officially depart on July 13, 2025.

Cliff Hou, Senior Vice President and Co-Chief Operating Officer, will concurrently assume responsibility for materials management.

According to sources, TSMC(2330.TW) recruited Lee in 2022 due to her extensive procurement experience at leading U.S. tech firms, including Apple and Alphabet Inc. Her sudden departure has sparked a wave of speculation. While some attribute it to personal career planning, others suggest internal management frictions may have played a role—though none of these claims have been confirmed.

Lee joined TSMC in 2022 as Senior Director of Materials Management and was promoted to Vice President in 2024, becoming the youngest person to hold that title in the company's history.

Her prior role as Apple's director of global procurement was widely viewed as instrumental to her recruitment. TSMC is said to have made significant efforts to bring her onboard, viewing her leadership in managing complex supplier ecosystems as critical.

In May 2025, Lee was seen attending a private dinner between NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang, TSMC Chairman C.C. Wei, and other executives, highlighting her growing influence within the organization. She also represented the company at several major supply chain events during her tenure.

She holds a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Soochow University and a master's degree in chemistry from National Taiwan University.

Before joining TSMC, Lee served as Global Commodity Manager at Alphabet Inc. (2020–2022), Procurement Director at Apple (2011–2019), Senior Sourcing Manager at Qualcomm Inc. (2007–2011), and Technical Marketing Manager at Hermes-Epitek (2004–2007)—the latter later acquired by ASML Holding.

She remains best known in the industry for her tenure at Apple, where she exercised global procurement authority and was instrumental in shaping the company's supplier relationships.

According to TSMC's official website:

"Ms. Vanessa Lee is Vice President of the Materials Management Organization at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (TSMC). Ms. Vanessa Lee joined TSMC in 2022 and was appointed Senior Director of Materials Management. She established a working model and system to provide TSMC's demand forecast to suppliers, and built capability to monitor and track the development and delivery status of TSMC's key suppliers. This capability and the resulting transparency significantly raised the efficiency of collaboration between TSMC and its suppliers, and enabled TSMC to overcome supply chain disruptions in tools and materials during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prior to joining TSMC, Ms. Vanessa Lee worked for Google as global commodity manager between 2020 and 2022. She was a procurement director at Apple from 2011 to 2019, and a senior sourcing manager at Qualcomm from 2007 to 2011."

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SOURCE DIGITIMES ASIA

FAQ

Why did TSMC's VP of Materials Management Vanessa Lee resign in July 2025?

According to TSMC's announcement, Vanessa Lee resigned for personal reasons after taking a one-month extended leave, with her departure effective July 13, 2025.

Who will replace Vanessa Lee as head of materials management at TSMC?

Cliff Hou, TSMC's Senior Vice President and Co-Chief Operating Officer, will concurrently assume responsibility for materials management.

What were Vanessa Lee's main achievements at TSMC (TSM)?

Lee established supplier forecasting systems, improved supply chain transparency, and helped TSMC overcome supply chain disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic. She was also the youngest Vice President in company history.

What was Vanessa Lee's work experience before joining TSMC?

Lee previously worked as Global Commodity Manager at Alphabet (2020-2022), Procurement Director at Apple (2011-2019), Senior Sourcing Manager at Qualcomm (2007-2011), and Technical Marketing Manager at Hermes-Epitek.

How long did Vanessa Lee work at TSMC before resigning?

Lee worked at TSMC for approximately 3 years, joining as Senior Director of Materials Management in 2022 and being promoted to Vice President in 2024 before resigning in July 2025.