FREMONT, Calif. -- July 15, 1999 -- Highlighting its efforts to expand worldwide sales of high-performance analog circuits and system-on-chip (SOC) solutions, Cirrus Logic Inc. (NASDAQ:CRUS)

today announced two top-level appointments to its executive management team.

Keith Essency, 52, has been appointed vice president and general manager of the recently formed Crystal Audio Division, with responsibility for all audio market segments: consumer, computer, professional and automotive. The appointment of Essency, an industry pioneer in creating semiconductor technology for the audio market, is expected to further advance Cirrus Logic's position as the industry's dominant supplier of audio ICs.

Terry Leeder, 51, has been appointed vice president, Worldwide Sales, replacing Henry D. Josefczyk, who has resigned to pursue other interests. Leeder's appointment is expected to accelerate Cirrus Logic's momentum in driving worldwide sales of high- performance analog and system-on-chip (SOC) solutions in audio, storage, and industrial markets.

"I've worked with Keith in the past and we could not have found a more seasoned or forward-looking individual to lead the expansion of our audio business. He is a true visionary with impressive organizational and team building skills." said David D. French president and CEO Cirrus Logic. "We brought Terry on because of his outstanding track record in both semiconductor sales and product management. He has proven expertise in driving worldwide sales growth of high integration and proprietary mass market ICs."

"With our return to a fabless manufacturing model, and our focus on developing new market opportunities, we're confident that Keith and Terry's proven leadership and experience will help accelerate our success," said French.

Keith Essency, new VP/GM, Crystal Audio Division

A former Motorola executive, Essency brings more than 30 years experience to Cirrus Logic. His career includes the pioneering development of the 24-bit digital signal processor (DSP) architecture at Motorola, which led to the general-purpose DSP solutions that propelled Motorola's semiconductor drive into the consumer audio market. Essency is also credited with first envisioning, and then developing, audio chip capabilities for the wireless infrastructure market.

Essency joins Cirrus Logic from his position as operations manager, Video Communications Solutions, Motorola Semiconductor Product Sector. Previously he held a similar position for Motorola's DSP Infrastructure Products, where he led the growth of market sales from less than $50 million to $200 million in five years. He also held a number of other product development and marketing positions at Motorola, Thomson Components/Mostek Corporation and Texas Instruments. Essency has a BSEE from Purdue University, and began his career at Bell Telephone Labs. He resides in Austin, TX.

Terry Leeder, new VP of Worldwide Sales

Leeder, a 30-year industry veteran, previously held positions at Texas Instruments, Fairchild Semiconductor, Signetics (now Philips Semiconductor), and Power Integrations, Inc. Leeder also founded two companies, Waferscale Integration and, most recently, Medianix Semiconductor, Inc.

As vice president of marketing at Power Integrations, Leeder developed a new market strategy that led the company to a successful IPO in 1996. Leeder also established the Japan sales office and subsequent Power Integrations KK entity to serve major Japanese electronics manufacturers.

Most recently, Terry founded and served as president and CEO of Medianix Semiconductor. He led Medianix in the development and manufacture of market application-specific DSP chip solutions for the PC multimedia and consumer market segments. These products secured design wins at numerous audio customers in the USA and Asia. Leeder is a graduate of Salford University in London, England. He resides in Mountain View, CA.

Cirrus Logic is a premier supplier of high-performance analog circuits and advanced system-on-chip solutions. The company's products, sold under its own name and the Crystal product brand, enable system-level applications in mass storage, audio and precision data conversion. Additional information about Cirrus Logic is available at http:// www.cirrus.com

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