People in the News: 04/28/21

AUSTIN, Texas — Silicon Labs, a provider of silicon, software, and solutions, appointed Matt Johnson president. Johnson previously served as senior vice president and general manager of IoT Products. The company also appointed Daniel Cooley CTO. Cooley previously served as chief strategy officer. He will closely with Johnson on IoT market opportunities, strategic partnerships, acquisitions, and advanced technologies. The appointments were announced on April 22 and 23, respectively. Silicon Labs announced it had entered into a definitive agreement with semiconductor company Skyworks Solutions Inc. on April 22, under terms of which Skyworks will acquire Silicon Labs’ infrastructure and automotive business in a $2.75 billion transaction.

COSTA MESA, Calif. — Optical components manufacturer Precision Optical named Paul Jasser director of IT and cybersecurity. The role supports the company’s customer base and suppliers.

SALISBURY, England — Sentinel Photonics, a provider of laser detection and protection systems to military and homeland security users, named Chris Burgess CEO. He is the first CEO in the company’s history. Burgess has spent 15 years in various positions with the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory.

Chris Burgess, CEO of Sentinel Photonics. Courtesy of Sentinel Photonics.
GLASGOW, Scotland — David Childs, who is credited with the co-invention of the photonic crystal surface emitting laser (PCSEL), has been named director of product development at Vector Photonics. Childs will supervise operations and develop PCSEL designs into production-ready devices for datacom, lidar, 3D metal printing, and 3D plastic printing. Childs most recently was part of the University of Glasgow School of Engineering’s Photonic Devices and Systems Group of the Electronics and Nanoscale Engineering Division.

WAKEFIELD, Mass. — The Innovative Optical and Wireless Network Global Forum (IOWN GF) added Shingo Mizuno and Gilles Bourdon to its board of directors at its annual member meeting. Mizuno is corporate executive officer and the vice head of Fujitsu Limited’s system platform business. Bourdon is vice president of wireline networks and infrastructure at Orange Labs.