Supermicro Names Western Digital Veteran Mark Long as New CFO

Super Micro Computer appointed Mark Long as its new chief financial officer on Wednesday, installing a veteran technology executive to lead the finance function of a hardware maker engulfed in overlapping federal criminal and regulatory investigations.

Long, 59, succeeds David Weigand nearly two years after an independent board investigation concluded the company needed more experienced financial leadership. The search for a replacement dragged on through a period defined by auditor departures, export-control scrutiny, and the March 2026 arrest of Supermicro co-founder Yih-Shyan “Wally” Liaw on allegations he orchestrated a $2.5 billion scheme to smuggle servers loaded with restricted Nvidia chips to China.

The appointment arrives at a critical juncture for the San Jose-based server manufacturer. Supermicro supplies specialized infrastructure to artificial intelligence developers, including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s chip operations and Elon Musk’s xAI, which was recently folded into SpaceX. Maintaining investor confidence while navigating active probes from the Department of Justice, FBI, Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Bureau of Industry and Security requires a CFO capable of managing both complex capital structures and severe compliance risks.

Long’s background spans corporate finance, strategic advisory, and special purpose acquisition companies. He previously served as CFO and chief strategy officer at data storage giant Western Digital, where the company generated roughly $130 billion in revenue during his tenure. He later co-founded a SPAC that raised $300 million before merging with Beijing-based auto insurance technology platform Cheche Technology in 2023. He currently operates Prime Impact Capital, an investment and advisory firm.

His compensation package reflects the premium required to attract senior talent to a company under intense regulatory pressure. Long will receive a $725,000 base salary, a $500,000 signing bonus, and a guaranteed $500,000 annual cash bonus, alongside performance-based equity incentives. His initial equity grant is valued at approximately $4.1 million based on Thursday’s stock price, supplemented by options on 150,000 shares.

Weigand will remain temporarily to assist with the transition, though Supermicro has not detailed his future role. CEO Charles Liang stated Long would deliver an immediate positive impact on the company’s financial execution. Supermicro declined to make Long available for interviews.

The revolving door in Supermicro’s finance department traces back to 2018, when an SEC probe charged the company and its then-CFO with improper revenue recognition. That investigation prompted the resignation of several employees. Supermicro settled the charges in 2020 for $17.5 million. Liaw, who had departed during the internal audit committee review preceding the SEC action, returned as a consultant in May 2021, became a full-time employee, and rejoined the board in December 2023.

The most recent crisis accelerated when auditors Ernst & Young abruptly resigned, triggering the board-led probe that identified process lapses under Weigand’s oversight as both CFO and chief compliance officer. Investigators found that employees who left during the 2017 accounting fallout had been rehired, and EY was never informed about a consulting arrangement involving a former CFO.

Liaw’s March arrest introduced far graver legal exposure. Federal prosecutors allege Liaw and associates used hairdryers to peel off and replace shipping labels, and staged thousands of non-working dummy servers to deceive inspectors while actual hardware containing export-controlled components was diverted to China. Liaw has pleaded not guilty. A separate board investigation completed in August found no evidence current senior management knew about the smuggling operation.

Legal proceedings are advancing rapidly against Liaw’s alleged co-conspirators. Ting-Wei “Willy” Sun, a contractor indicted alongside Liaw, pleaded guilty last week to four counts, including conspiracy to smuggle goods, export violations, and obstruction of justice. Court records show the obstruction charge stems from Sun deleting an encrypted messaging application from his phone on March 19, the day of the arrests. Sun faces up to 20 years in prison at his September 2027 sentencing and must forfeit proceeds from the offenses. His court filings do not specify whether he has entered a cooperation agreement with the government.

Sun’s defense team notified the presiding judge that documents Supermicro is compelled to produce could be material to his case, prompting the delay of Liaw’s trial from November 2026 to March 2027. Supermicro has also disclosed receiving a grand jury subpoena from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York targeting its compliance programs and internal controls, alongside inquiries from foreign authorities.

Board composition is shifting concurrently with the executive suite. Intel’s former IT CTO Shesha Krishnapura recently joined the board, while Judy Lin retired. Lin served as a Western Digital vice president from 2007 until September 2012, departing shortly after Long began consulting for the storage company in March 2012 ahead of his official hiring as chief strategy officer in January 2013.