Born in Xinhui, China, Kwok Yuen Ho, better known as K.Y., co-founded ATI Technologies Inc. in 1985.
Back in 1974, Ho earned an electrical engineering degree from the National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan.
Before coming to Canada in 1984, Ho had spent more than 10 years in the information technology industry in Hong Kong with such companies as Control Data, Data Products, National Semiconductor and Philips.
Within a year of arriving here he started Array Technology Inc. along with two others from Hong Kong.
Soon most people in the channel referred to the company by its three-letter acronym. Ho served as the company’s president and CEO until April 2000, by which time ATI had become a leader in the graphic chip market.
During that span, Ho made historic deals with Intel and Microsoft to provide breakthrough video gaming experiences on the PC and gaming consoles.
After nearly 20 years at the top of ATI, Ho was appointed chairman in addition to his responsibilities as CEO.
But in 2000 he and several executives were charged with insider trading by the Ontario Securities Commission. After Ho was cleared of those allegations last year he resigned from the company outright.
This year chip maker AMD acquired ATI for a Canadian record US$5.4 billion, a tribute to the giant he built.
