David V. Goeckeler
Summary
David V. Goeckeler is Sandisk’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, a position he has held since the company became independent from Western Digital in February 2025. ([investor.sandisk.com](https://investor.sandisk.com/management/david-goeckeler?utm_source=openai))
Biography
Goeckeler began his career at Bell Laboratories and later held senior leadership positions at Cisco, where he was executive vice president and general manager of its networking and security business, described by Western Digital as a more than $34 billion global technology franchise. He joined Western Digital as chief executive officer in March 2020. ([investor.sandisk.com](https://investor.sandisk.com/management/david-goeckeler?utm_source=openai)) At Western Digital, Goeckeler oversaw the company’s storage businesses and led the process that separated the Flash business into an independent Sandisk corporation. The separation was completed in February 2025, when Sandisk began trading as a standalone public company. He also serves as chairman of the Semiconductor Industry Association and the U.S.-Japan Business Council, and sits on the board of Automatic Data Processing. ([investor.sandisk.com](https://investor.sandisk.com/management/david-goeckeler?utm_source=openai))
Notable achievements
- Led the separation of Western Digital’s Flash business into standalone Sandisk in February 2025. ([investor.sandisk.com](https://investor.sandisk.com/management/david-goeckeler?utm_source=openai))
- Previously led Cisco’s global networking and security business. ([sec.gov](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/106040/000119312520065100/d816278dex991.htm?utm_source=openai))
- Helped establish Sandisk as an independent public company with its own leadership, governance, and reporting structure. ([sec.gov](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2023554/000162828025044481/sndk-20251006.htm?utm_source=openai))
- During fiscal 2026, Sandisk reported sharply higher revenue and increased datacenter sales, alongside new business-model agreements. ([investor.sandisk.com](https://investor.sandisk.com/news-releases/news-release-details/sandisk-reports-fiscal-third-quarter-2026-financial-results?utm_source=openai))
Problem areas / controversies
- Sandisk reported a $1.83 billion goodwill impairment charge and a $1.93 billion GAAP loss in the third quarter of fiscal 2025, shortly after the separation. ([investor.sandisk.com](https://investor.sandisk.com/news-releases/news-release-details/sandisk-reports-fiscal-third-quarter-2025-financial-results?utm_source=openai))
- The company remains exposed to pronounced NAND-market swings, including changes in supply, pricing, demand, and average selling prices. ([investor.sandisk.com](https://investor.sandisk.com/news-releases/news-release-details/sandisk-reports-fiscal-fourth-quarter-2025-financial-results?utm_source=openai))
- The separation created execution risks involving standalone systems, costs, supply-chain relationships, and the ability to capture expected benefits. ([investor.sandisk.com](https://investor.sandisk.com/news-releases/news-release-details/sandisk-reports-fiscal-fourth-quarter-2025-financial-results?utm_source=openai))