UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                        --------------------------------


                                    FORM 8-K


              Current Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                Date of Report (date of earliest event reported):
                                November 3, 2003


                       Cabot Microelectronics Corporation
                   ------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


           Delaware                      000-30205                36-4324765
-----------------------------       -------------------       -----------------
 (State or other jurisdiction        (Commission File           (IRS Employer
      of incorporation)                   Number)              Identification)


                    870 Commons Drive, Aurora, Illinois 60504
         -------------------------------------------------------------
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

                                 (630) 375-6631
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              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

                                 Not applicable
        ----------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)




Item 5.  Other Events.

         On November 3, 2003, Cabot Microelectronics Corporation issued a press
release entitled "William P. Noglows Elected Chairman and CEO of Cabot
Microelectronics," a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and
incorporated herein by reference.


Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

         (c)      Exhibits

                  The following exhibits are filed herewith:

                  99.1     Text of press release, dated November 3, 2003,
                           entitled "William P. Noglows Elected Chairman and CEO
                           of Cabot Microelectronics."



                                    SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                CABOT MICROELECTRONICS CORPORATION


Date: November 3, 2003          By: /s/ WILLIAM S. JOHNSON
                                    ----------------------
                                    William S. Johnson
                                    Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
                                    [Principal Financial Officer]



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                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit
Number              Title
-------             -----


99.1                Text of press release, dated November 3, 2003, entitled
                    "William P. Noglows Elected Chairman and CEO of Cabot
                    Microelectronics."



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