Cognex announced that Robert J. Shillman, the company’s founder, chairman, and chief culture officer, will resign from the company’s board of directors and as an executive officer, effective May 5. He will continue to hold his title of chief culture officer until June 1. After that, he will assume the title of “Founder, Chairman Emeritus, and Adviser” and will remain an employee of Cognex as an adviser to Cognex CEO Robert J. Willett and to the company’s board of directors. Anthony Sun, Cognex’s lead independent director, will succeed Shillman as chairman of the board. Shillman, 74, has served as chairman of the board and as an executive officer of the company since it was founded by him in 1981. He served as CEO from 1981 to March 2011.