SEMI Names Royal Kastens as Head of Global Advocacy and Public Policy

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SEMI, the industry association serving the global semiconductor and electronics design and manufacturing supply chain, announced the promotion of Royal Kastens as Vice President of Global Public Policy and Advocacy. Based in the SEMI Washington, D.C. office, Kastens brings 18 years of public policy experience to the role, including three years as the Director of Public Policy and Advocacy at SEMI.

Kastens will lead global government relations at SEMI, including directing strategies to strengthen SEMI’s public policy agenda and advancing advocacy initiatives globally. He will partner closely with SEMI regional presidents to expand the organization's reach, deepen engagement with policymakers, and support SEMI's global network of public policy committees and member companies.

“Leading the SEMI Global Advocacy team, Royal will collaborate with members to shape our policy agenda and drive government engagement on the issues that matter most,” said SEMI President and CEO Ajit Manocha. “His deep expertise, strategic insight, and keen ability to build relationships with key policymakers and regulators serve as critical assets in representing the interests of our member companies. In this time of unprecedented industry growth, challenges and uncertainty, we have great confidence in the continuity and proven ability that Royal brings to this role as SEMI continues to expand as the voice of semiconductor manufacturing and the broader electronics design value chain.”

“I’m honored to step into this role at such a pivotal time when the semiconductor industry is undergoing transformative growth,” said Kastens. “I am committed to working with policymakers and SEMI member companies around the world to advance policies in focus areas including trade, tax, talent, and technology to strengthen our global supply chain, fuel innovation, and drive the trillion-dollar semiconductor future.”

Kastens succeeds former SEMI Vice President of Global Advocacy and Public Policy, John Cooney.

“We thank John Cooney for his leadership and contributions to the SEMI Global Advocacy program, driving key policies that help fuel semiconductor industry growth, innovation and workforce development, and advocating for strategic priorities on behalf of SEMI member companies,” Manocha said.

Kastens began his career as Personal Aide to Senator Edward M. Kennedy and later served on the staff of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, focusing on European affairs and security assistance. He subsequently consulted at Van Scoyoc Associates before joining SEMI in 2022 as Director of Public Policy and Advocacy.

Kastens holds a B.A. in Political Science from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania and an M.A. in Government from Johns Hopkins University.