TE Connectivity plc
Company History
TE Connectivity History: Founding, Growth & Key Milestones
Founded 2007 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States
When was TE Connectivity founded?
TE Connectivity was founded in 2007 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States by Uncas A. Whitaker, making it 19 years old.
- Founded
- 2007
- Founding place
- Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States
- Founders
- Uncas A. Whitaker
- Headquarters today
- Galway, Ireland
- Milestones documented
- 12 (1941–2026)
- Current CEO
- Terrence Curtin
- Acquisitions
- 5
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1941 | AMP founded |
| 1999 | Tyco buys AMP |
| 2006 | Tom Lynch becomes CEO |
| 2007 | Spin-off from Tyco |
| 2010 | ADC Telecommunications Acquired |
| 2011 | Renamed TE Connectivity |
| 2012 | Deutsch Acquired |
| 2014 | Measurement Specialties acquired |
| 2017 | Terrence R. Curtin becomes CEO |
| 2024 | Move to Ireland |
| 2025 | Richards Manufacturing and FY2025 results |
| 2026 | Record quarter and Astrodyne TDI deal |
- Where was TE Connectivity founded?
- TE Connectivity was founded in Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States in 2007.
- Who founded TE Connectivity?
- TE Connectivity was founded by Uncas A. Whitaker.
- When did TE Connectivity start?
- TE Connectivity was founded in 2007.
- How old is TE Connectivity?
- TE Connectivity is 19 years old as of 2026.
Founding Story
TE Connectivity traces its roots to AMP (Aircraft-Marine Products), founded by Uncas A. Whitaker in 1941 around solderless crimped electrical terminals. Tyco International bought AMP in 1999 and combined it into Tyco Electronics, which was spun off as an independent NYSE company in 2007, renamed TE Connectivity in 2011, and moved its legal domicile from Switzerland to Ireland in 2024.
Founders
Uncas A. Whitaker
Uncas A. Whitaker (1900-1975) was an American engineer and patent attorney who founded Aircraft-Marine Products (AMP) in 1941. AMP's solderless crimped terminals replaced hand soldering in military aircraft and ships during World War II and later became standard in cars, computers and appliances. AMP is the main predecessor of TE Connectivity. Uncas A. Whitaker was born in 1900.
Key Milestones
AMP founded
Uncas A. Whitaker founds Aircraft-Marine Products (AMP) to make solderless crimped electrical terminals.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgTyco buys AMP
Tyco International acquires AMP and folds it into Tyco Electronics.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgTom Lynch becomes CEO
Tom Lynch became CEO of TE Connectivity in 2006. Led TE through its 2007 separation from Tyco International; Terrence Curtin succeeded him in March 2017.
Source: rttnews.comSpin-off from Tyco
Tyco Electronics becomes an independent NYSE-listed company (TEL).
Source: en.wikipedia.orgADC Telecommunications Acquired
Tyco Electronics bought ADC Telecommunications in 2010 for about $1.25 billion.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgDeutsch Acquired
TE Connectivity bought the connector maker Deutsch in 2012 for about $2 billion.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgMeasurement Specialties acquired
TE buys sensor maker Measurement Specialties for about $1.7 billion, building its sensor business.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgTerrence R. Curtin becomes CEO
Terrence R. Curtin became CEO of TE Connectivity in 2017. Curtin joined Tyco Electronics in 2006 and was CFO and then President before becoming CEO in March 2017.
Source: investors.te.comMove to Ireland
TE completes its change of legal domicile from Switzerland to Ireland on September 30, 2024.
Source: sec.govRichards Manufacturing and FY2025 results
TE closes the $2.3 billion Richards Manufacturing acquisition in April 2025, reorganizes into two segments and reports FY2025 net sales of $17.262 billion.
Source: investors.te.comRecord quarter and Astrodyne TDI deal
Q3 FY2026 sales reach a record $5.16 billion with $5.7 billion of orders; TE agrees to buy Astrodyne TDI for about $1.4 billion.
Source: investors.te.comMajor Acquisitions
Measurement Specialties
2014Build a broad sensor portfolio.
Creganna Medical
2016Add minimally invasive medical device components.
First Sensor
2020Expand sensor capabilities in industrial, medical and mobility markets.
Richards Manufacturing
2025Expand in North American utility grid products; bought from Oaktree funds and the Bier family, closed April 1, 2025.
Astrodyne TDI (pending)
2026Add power management and filtering products with more than $250 million of annual sales; announced July 22, 2026, expected to close by end of calendar 2026.
Keep researching TE Connectivity
TE Connectivity Company History FAQ
When, where, and by whom was TE Connectivity's predecessor company founded?
TE Connectivity traces its foundational origins to Aircraft-Marine Products (AMP), founded in 1941 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, by engineer and entrepreneur Uncas A. Whitaker.
What revolutionary invention launched Aircraft-Marine Products (AMP) in 1941?
Uncas Whitaker invented the solderless, crimped electrical terminal. By mechanically crimping wire terminals rather than hand-soldering them, AMP revolutionized aircraft and marine wiring during World War II, dramatically increasing assembly speed and vibration resistance.
How did AMP grow into a global electronics giant in the post-WWII era?
Throughout the 1950s to 1980s, AMP expanded from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, inventing standardized quick-connect terminals, printed circuit board connectors, and multi-pin electrical harness plugs for automotive and computing industries.
When and why did Tyco International acquire AMP?
In April 1999, industrial conglomerate Tyco International, led by Dennis Kozlowski, acquired AMP for approximately US$11.3 billion in a hostile-turned-friendly takeover, integrating it as the centerpiece of Tyco Electronics.
When was Tyco Electronics spun off as an independent public company?
In June 2007, Tyco International completed its three-way breakup, spinning off Tyco Electronics Ltd. as an independent publicly traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol TEL.
Why did Tyco Electronics rebrand to TE Connectivity in 2011?
In March 2011, shareholders approved changing the corporate name to TE Connectivity plc to shed the legacy Tyco conglomerate association and emphasize its core engineering identity in electronic connectors, sensors, and connectivity solutions.
How did the acquisition of Deutsch Group in 2012 transform TE Connectivity?
In 2012, TE acquired Deutsch Group for US$2.05 billion, cementing its global dominance in harsh-environment, heavy-duty electrical connectors for aerospace, defense, marine, and commercial heavy transportation.
What was the landmark 2014 acquisition of Measurement Specialties?
In 2014, TE acquired Measurement Specialties for US$1.7 billion, creating one of the world's largest sensor companies capable of measuring pressure, temperature, position, vibration, and humidity alongside electrical connectivity.
Why did TE Connectivity re-domicile its corporate headquarters to Ireland in 2024?
In 2024, TE moved its legal corporate domicile from Switzerland to Galway, Ireland, aligning its global corporate structure within the European Union and standardizing international legal governance.
What was the $2.3 billion acquisition of Richards Manufacturing in 2025?
In April 2025, TE completed the US$2.3 billion acquisition of Richards Manufacturing, significantly expanding its Energy segment with medium- and high-voltage underground power distribution connectors for North American electric utilities.
How has TE Connectivity positioned itself in AI data centers and generative computing?
TE pioneered high-speed copper interconnect architectures, developing 112G and 224G PAM4 over-the-board cable assemblies and co-packaged optical (CPO) sockets that connect high-performance AI GPU clusters with minimum latency.
Who is Terrence Curtin and what has been his impact on TE Connectivity?
Terrence Curtin became CEO in March 2017 after serving as President and CFO. He streamlined the portfolio, focused on high-margin EV mobility and industrial AI infrastructure, and drove operating margins to record 20%+ levels.
Related Companies
Compare TE Connectivity plc History With Competitors
Related Strategic History
Compare founding milestones and corporate evolution
Explore TE Connectivity
Core profile pages, founders and related research hubs for this company.