FREMONT, Calif., April 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Exar Corporation's (Nasdaq: EXAR) announced today that industry veteran Chris Dingley with 25 years of semiconductor sales management experience, has joined Exar's management team as Executive Vice President of Worldwide Sales reporting to Pete Rodriguez, president and CEO.  Mr. Dingley replaces Bentley Long who was Vice President of Global Sales.  Exar would like to thank Mr. Long for more than 15 years of service in several pivotal sales management roles and the Company extends its best wishes for his future endeavors.

In his role, Mr. Dingley will assume responsibility for Exar's worldwide sales efforts including strategy, development of key accounts, relationships with Exar distributors and representatives, plus penetration of new markets.

"Chris brings to Exar a highly successful track record in semiconductor sales from some of the industry's premier manufacturers," said Pete Rodriguez, President and CEO.  "I am confident that Chris's demonstrated experience in growing sales, along with his proven leadership abilities to build and manage worldwide semiconductor sales teams, will help us to grow Exar and meet the needs of our customers now and into the future."

Prior to joining Exar, Mr. Dingley was Vice President of Worldwide Sales for Micrel, a provider of IC solutions for analog, Ethernet and high bandwidth markets.  Mr. Dingley's career at Micrel spanned 14 years where he was promoted to increasingly more senior roles including Director of Sales and Global accounts, Manager of Micrel's Western Sales Territory and Director of Worldwide Distribution Sales.  Prior to Micrel, he spent ten years in Sales and Distribution management for Winbond and General Instrument.  Mr. Dingley studied Marketing and Electrical Engineering at Arizona State University.

About Exar

Exar Corporation delivers highly differentiated silicon, software and subsystem solutions for data communication, storage, consumer and industrial applications.  For nearly 40 years, Exar's comprehensive knowledge of end-user markets along with the underlying analog, mixed signal and digital technology has enabled innovative solutions that meet the needs of the evolving connected world.  Exar's product portfolio includes power management and interface components, communications products, storage optimization solutions, network security and applied service processors.  Exar has locations worldwide providing real-time customer support to drive rapid product development.  For more information about Exar, visit: www.exar.com.

SOURCE Exar Corporation