CIMdata was saddened to learn about the untimely passing of a true visionary, Chuck Grindstaff, the former CEO of Siemens PLM Software. Mr. Grindstaff retired from Siemens in 2016 to pursue a passion for winemaking at his Next Step Vineyards, LLC but he left his mark on the industry with his leadership of Siemens PLM Software and its precursors.
Mr. Grindstaff began his association with UGS in 1978, when he joined the Unigraphics Solutions research and development team, holding various leadership positions. Mr. Grindstaff left Unigraphics in 1988 and served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Waveframe, where he developed and manufactured digital signal processing systems for high-end motion picture applications that revolutionized the application of digital processes for film-making. He was recently awarded a Scientific and Engineering Award from the Motion Picture Academy of the Arts and Sciences for this ground-breaking work and its long-term impact on the industry—a nice complement to the Emmy’s won by his father for sound engineering on trailblazing shows like Star Trek (The Original Series).
Siemens AG made a major investment in the acquisition of UGS Corp. and tapped Mr. Grindstaff to lead the business unit, taking over from Mr. Tony Affuso in 2010. It is a measure of the man and his capabilities that Siemens AG began transferring responsibility for more and more of their other software businesses to be managed by the Siemens PLM Software unit. Under his leadership, his keen business sense, vision, and passion for technology helped bring him and his firm to the top of the PLM business worldwide.
Our heartfelt condolences go out to Mr. Grindstaff’s family and friends in this time of grief. He will be missed.
