Leadership and Board Members | Richardson Electronics

Over 75 years ago, Arthur Richardson, Sr. set the standard for leadership of Richardson Electronics. Today, our leaders share his entrepreneurial spirit, commitment to high standards of integrity and ability to inspire people to action.

Meet Our Board Members
Meet the Management Team

Meet Our Board Members

Learn more about the expertise and experience they utilize in providing oversight and direction for our businesses.

Edward J. Richardson
Chairman of the Board, CEO & President, Richardson Electronics, Ltd.
Mr. Richardson has been a director since 1965. He is currently the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company.

Paul Plante
CEO, Florida Fresh Vending
Mr. Plante joined the Board in 2011. He has provided business consulting services to the electronics industry since 2008. Mr. Plante has significant experience in the electronics industry, experience managing electronics manufacturing companies and extensive financial knowledge.

Jacques Belin
Mr. Belin is the retired Managing Director of Thales Components and Subsystems. He joined the Board in October 2013.

James Benham
Mr. Benham is a technical consultant, Night Vision and Microwave Device Industry; and retired President of L-3 Communications/Electron Device Division. He joined the Board in October 2013.

Kenneth Halverson
Mr. Halverson is a consultant, Halverson Consulting, LLC; and former President of Comdisco Healthcare. He joined the Board in October 2013.

Robert H. Kluge

Mr. Kluge has served as the General Manager, and later as President, of the Imaging Components Business at Varian Medical Systems, Inc. from February 1993 to February 2014 and as a Corporate Senior Vice President. He served as General Manager of X-Ray Products for Picker International from 1988 to 1993 and oversaw the diagnostic X-Ray product line, including X-Ray systems for Radiographic, R&F and Vascular applications, and was later given expanded responsibility for X-ray tubes. He joined the board in October 2017.

Wendy Diddell

EVP, Chief Operating Officer, Richardson Electronics, Ltd.
Ms. Diddell joined the Board in 2021. She has been an employee of Richardson Electronics since 2003, holding positions in several of the business units and corporate functions prior to her role as Chief Operating Officer.

Meet the Management Team

Explore their backgrounds and learn how they set the pace for a culture of quality and entrepreneurship.

Edward J. Richardson
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President
Mr. Richardson has been employed by the company since 1961, holding several positions during his tenure. He was Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President from September 1989 until November 1996. Since that time, Mr. Richardson has continued to hold the offices of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, and in April 2006 he also became President.

Wendy Diddell
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
From February 2006 to June 2007, she was Executive Vice President and General Manager of our Security Systems Division. Ms. Diddell was Vice President and General Manager of the Security Systems Division beginning in June 2004. Between 2003-2004, she was employed as a management consultant for the Security Systems Division. From 1997 to 2003, Ms. Diddell was the Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Ultrak, Inc., a global manufacturer of closed circuit television and access control systems for the commercial and government markets.

Robert J. Ben
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary
Prior to joining Richardson Electronics Ltd., Mr. Ben was employed with Cobra Electronics Corporation from April 2000 through November 2014 where he most recently served as Senior Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Ben also was a Division Controller for Ivex Packaging Corporation from February 1999 through March 2000, M&A Manager for KPMG Advisory from February 1997 through January 1999, senior international auditor and an F,P&A supervisor for Abbott Laboratories from March 1989 through January 1997, and a senior auditor for Ernst & Young from August 1986 through February 1989.

Kathleen M. McNally
Senior Vice President, Global Supply Chain
Prior to assuming these responsibilities in July 2000, she served as Vice President and Corporate Officer of Marketing Operations until 1989. After joining the Company in 1979, Ms. McNally held various positions within the marketing department before serving as Marketing Services Manager from 1986 until 1989.

Greg Peloquin
Executive Vice President – Power & Microwave Technologies
Gregory Peloquin has been Executive Vice President, Power & Microwave Technologies Group since 2014. Previously, Mr. Peloquin spent three years as President of Arrow RFPD from 2011 – 2014. Prior to that, Mr. Peloquin was Executive Vice President and General Manager of the RF, Wireless & Power Division of Richardson Electronics from January 2002 to March 2011. Mr. Peloquin joined Richardson Electronics in 2002 from Motorola Semiconductor where he was Director of Global Marketing for the RF Division.

Jens Ruppert
Executive Vice President and General Manager, Canvys
Prior to joining Canvys in July 2015, Mr. Ruppert was the Managing Director of Envinet GmbH a German based high-tech company. Prior to that, Mr. Ruppert was with NDS Surgical Imaging from April 2006 through December 2013. While with NDS Surgical Imaging, Mr. Ruppert held various management positions including Vice President and General Manager from January 2010 to December 2013. Prior to NDS Surgical Imaging, Mr. Ruppert held management positions at Heraeus-Med (Maquet/Getinge) and Gebrueder Martin (KLS Martin Group). Mr. Ruppert started his career as an engineer and worked his way up through sales, marketing and general management within the medical display and operating room equipment market.

Executive officers are elected annually at the time of the annual stockholders meeting.