Zilog, a San Jose, Calif-based provider of embedded control and communication applications used in consumer electronics, home appliances, security systems and PCs, today announced that its chairman and CEO, Jim Thorburn, has resigned and has been replaced by Robin Abrams, who currently serves on the company's board of directors. Abrams, most recently CEO of Firefly Mobile, will act as CEO on an interim basis while the board searches for a permanent replacement. "I felt the time was now right for me to step aside to allow new leadership to steer Zilog on its next phase of growth," Thornburn said in a statement. He had lead the company for five years.