SAN JOSE -- Charlie Huang, viewed by some as the number two executive at Cadence, has resigned and will leave the company next month.

A Cadence spokesperson confirmed to PCD&F today that Huang would depart the software company in mid-November to "explore other opportunities."

"Over the next month Huang will be working closely with the System and Verification Group management team on a seamless transition and continued execution of the group strategy, roadmap and customer commitments," the spokesman said.

Huang is executive vice president and general manager of Cadence's System and Verification Group, where he has worked since 2001 since the company's acquisition of CadMOS. He has held executive roles in R&D at EPIC Design Technology and Synopsys, and has a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University.

Some industry watchers saw Huang as the eventual replacement to CEO Lip-bu Tan.