Synopsys announced that it has entered into a cooperation agreement with Elliott Investment Management, resulting in the appointment of Jesse Cohn to its board of directors as an independent director, effective June 1, 2026. Cohn, a managing partner at Elliott, brings extensive experience as both an investor and board member of public technology companies.
The appointment expands Synopsys’ board to 11 members and adds a director with a background in technology investing, corporate governance, and shareholder value creation. Cohn will also serve on the company’s Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee.
Synopsys Executive Chair and Founder Aart de Geus said the company believes Cohn’s perspective and experience will strengthen the board as it continues to focus on strategic execution and long-term value creation. The agreement between Synopsys and Elliott also includes customary standstill, voting, and confidentiality provisions, which will be disclosed in a Form 8-K filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Cohn highlighted Synopsys’ position within the semiconductor industry and its opportunities stemming from growing investment in artificial intelligence and increasing engineering complexity. He noted that the company’s evolution beyond electronic design automation into broader engineering solutions creates significant opportunities to enhance financial performance and shareholder value.
The announcement comes as Synopsys continues to expand its role in providing engineering solutions spanning silicon design, intellectual property, simulation, analysis, and design services. The company works with customers across multiple industries to accelerate the development of AI-powered products and complex systems.
Cohn has been with Elliott since 2004 and serves as a managing partner and member of the firm’s Management, Risk, Allocation, and Investment Committees. Throughout his career, he has served as an independent director at several public technology companies, including Citrix Systems, eBay, and Twitter. He is also a member of the advisory board of the Harvard Law School Program on Corporate Governance. Before joining Elliott, Cohn worked as an analyst in the mergers and acquisitions group at Morgan Stanley.
KEY QUOTES:
“As an experienced board member, Jesse brings a uniquely differentiated perspective. He enthusiastically shares our belief that strategic focus, augmented by disciplined execution, is foundational to achieve both high impact in our industry and sustainable, long-term value creation. His joining us as a director, further strengthens our company, and I welcome Jesse’s positive engagement and contributions to our Board.”
Aart de Geus, Executive Chair and Founder, Synopsys
“Synopsys is essential to the global chip industry and is well-positioned to benefit from increasing AI investment and engineering complexity. Synopsys has transformed from the leader in EDA to the leader in engineering solutions, and its differentiated portfolio provides substantial opportunity to ensure the company’s financial performance reflects the value Synopsys delivers to the industry. I look forward to working with Sassine, Aart and the rest of the team in support of the company’s efforts to drive value for all stockholders.”
Jesse Cohn, Managing Partner, Elliott Investment Management
“Jesse has deep appreciation for our business and the mission-critical role we play in helping customers engineer AI-powered products from silicon to systems. As we drive increased competitive differentiation, value and execution across the business, his appointment aligns with our direction. I’ve enjoyed getting to know Jesse and welcome his constructive insights as a member of the Synopsys Board.”
Sassine Ghazi, President and CEO, Synopsys
