Chip toolmaker Tokyo Electron cuts ties with executive linked to Chinese rivals

tokyo electron cut ties with veteran executive jay chen, who helped build the japanese chip toolmaker's china business. chen left after his links to chinese rival start-ups surfaced. the company didn't disclose details of the connections, but the departure removes a key figure from its china operations. tokyo electron is one of the world's largest suppliers of chipmaking equipment, and china is a major market for the industry.