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May 20, 2025

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Simpson leaves legacy of leadership and loyalty

By Georgeann H. Ikuma

3 Takeaways

• Rob Simpson, vice president, worldwide procurement & logistics, Texas Instruments Inc., is retiring after four decades with the company.
• Simpson has served on the Dallas Fort Worth Minority Supplier Development Council for about 20 years.
• TI is expected to continue to support strong, committed and diverse suppliers.

Rob Simpson, the vice president of worldwide procurement & logistics at Texas Instruments Inc. (TI), is set to retire this summer after a 41-year career with the company. His long tenure with the tech giant began right after college and can be attributed to the strong alignment between his professional principles and the company’s core values.

“Our founders understood that creating a great company necessitated a unique culture that is the foundation of our daily operations,” said Simpson of TI’s goal of fostering a sense of belonging, purpose and commitment. “It has been my first, last and best job.”

His career at TI has been marked by his ability to grow and adapt alongside the company.

“There’s always plenty of opportunity within large companies,” said Simpson, who spent his first seven years as an engineer before moving into procurement and logistics.

“My success at the company was a combination of navigating properly, performing at a high level, and then, of course, good timing and some great opportunities,” he said.

One of Simpson’s key strengths has been his ability to bridge gaps between factories and procurement needs.

“I liked trying to solve problems both inside and outside to build a strong supply chain,” he said.

Over the years, Simpson witnessed significant changes and challenges. While the earthquake in Japan in 2011 tested the strength of the supply chain, his most demanding time occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“That was an interesting convergence of a big business boom because people were stuck inside and seeking entertainment from home, while conversely grinding down the gears of the supply chain,” he said. “Even with my decades of experience, every day I was faced with something new and needed to adapt to an ever-changing world.”  

Simpson’s involvement in the Dallas Fort Worth Minority Supplier Development Council (DFW MSDC) was significant in his career success.

“I’ve been a Texas Instruments representative on that board for about 20 years. Throughout my time as a representative and board member, TI has always been supportive of the communities it operates in,” he said. “Small businesses are what make the wheels go around.”

While the landscape appears to be changing for supplier diversity and minority business enterprises, Simpson believes TI’s sourcing has always been done for the right reasons and does not anticipate that changing.

“We do it because it’s important for our company and local communities where we are established, not because a government contract is dictating it or we’re trying to meet some number,” he said. “We want to have strong suppliers because it makes us stronger.”

With more expansion on the horizon, Simpson is confident that TI will continue to partner with companies that have done good work. While he may be leaving the company, he will undoubtedly leave it in good hands.

“TI will continue to look to strong, committed suppliers to help us continue to be a company that we are personally proud to be a part of and that we would want as our neighbor in the community.”

To learn more about texas Instruments visit TI.com.