Bio
Ross Berntson leads by fostering a culture of opportunity and innovation.
He believes in cultivating an environment in which everyone can excel and win, from employees and their families to customers, partners, and communities around the world. Establishing goals and expectations for himself and for how employees treat each other and customers is core to his mission as a leader.
In his nearly 30 years with Indium Corporation, Ross has helped build a company that is distinguished by disciplined processes and the pursuit of technologies that advance markets and anticipate customer needs. He joined Indium Corporation in 1996, notably advancing through leadership roles in product management, market development, and technical support. One of his earliest roles was technical lead on the launch of a new generation of no-clean solder paste which today remains a best-in-class and market-leading line of business.
His immersion in global operations included serving as president of Indium Corporation’s Asia Holdings, living in Singapore for two years to be directly involved in the development of the company’s operations and opportunities in Southeast Asia and China.
Promoted to president and COO in 2017, Ross’s contributions to sales, operations, and organizational design have proven foundational to the company’s success. He oversaw significant advances across all operational functions and global activities, strengthening Indium Corporation’s commitment to exceptional materials science and technical support.
Ross also was instrumental in the strategic alignment of the company’s applications group with vertical market product development, creating a highly effective cascade from innovation to product deployment. This customer-led strategic approach also helped further unify the company’s product and sales management groups while solidifying the technical expert’s role in winning customer confidence, developing new products, and fortifying brand.
Today, as Indium Corporation’s president and CEO, Ross is responsible for overall strategic direction and forwarding the Indium Corporation philosophy that almost every great advancement in technology can be attributed to a breakthrough in materials science. He fully embraces the Indium Corporation principle of One Engineer to Another®—that no matter where a customer is in the world, the company will send its engineers onto the customer’s factory floor, review their processes through a materials lens, and bring the best solutions to practical application.
As CEO, Ross brings positive energy to both opportunity and challenge, and strives to role model persistence and hard work. Through a shared vision and distributed decision-making, Ross is dedicated to working with his colleagues to make Indium Corporation the best-in-class materials science company in the electronics industry, with a reputation for exceptional product performance and high-touch customer engagement. He frequently references the many scientists, engineers, technicians, sales professionals, and other contributors who have played a critical role in Indium Corporation’s success thus far.
Ross is committed to Indium Corporation as an Employer of Choice where talented individuals from all disciplines can flourish. He is also a fervent proponent of the Indium Way®—the company’s culture of respect, appreciation, and achievement. Ross invites employees to bring their whole selves to the workplace, embrace their interests, conquer challenges, and fulfill their aspirations by exploring new talents and opportunities.
Keeping close to the technologies that impact markets and customers is core to Ross’s strategic management approach. It is with this lens that Indium Corporation has pursued a deliberate R&D roadmap and made calculated investments that have enabled talented scientists and engineers to develop new product offerings, such as Durafuse® LT, EZ-Pour®, Indium8.9HFT, Heat-Spring®, and InFORMS®.
Ross is credited with the ability to see both the big picture and the details, maintaining focus on the company’s vision while ensuring that operations remain in alignment. Agility to respond to market changes is a hallmark of his executive leadership approach.
Ross lends his expertise to numerous industry and community organizations, including board positions with the Manufacturer’s Association of New York (MACNY), Mohawk Valley Regional Economic Development Council, The House of Good Shepherd, and Stronger Communities NY. He is also an active member of professional associations, including IPC, iNEMI, International Microelectronics Assembly and Packaging Society, and Surface Mount Technology Association.
Ross is a graduate of the Harvard Business School Executive Leadership Program and holds a master’s degree in business administration from Cornell University, earning the Henny Wittink Memorial Marketing Prize. He holds a master’s degree in teaching and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, both also from Cornell University. He was awarded Cornell University’s George C. Caldwell Prize during his undergraduate studies. Ross is an accomplished author and has presented at technical conferences globally.
Awards
Henny Wittink Memorial Marketing Prize and the George C. Caldwell Prize. from Cornell University
Education
Master’s degree in business administration, a Master of arts degree in education, and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Cornell University