powerlase
Powerlase appoints Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer to oversee growth as company expands
Powerlase appoints Samuel Simonsson as Non-Executive Director and Chairman of the Board and Tony King as Chief Executive Officer to drive laser innovator's expansion
Crawley, England – 3rd May, 2006 – Powerlase Ltd, manufacturers of the world’s most powerful nanosecond Q-switched, diode-pumped solid state (DPSS) lasers, has appointed Samuel Simonsson as non-executive director and chairman of the board and Anthony King as Chief Executive Officer.
With a remit to assist the rapid growth of the laser innovator, Simonsson joins Powerlase following a long-standing career in the laser industry. He will work with the Executive team in the formulation, and implementation, of strategy as Powerlase continues to develop its operations and product range to cope with demand from customers and the wider market place.
In 1975 Simonsson co-founded Rofin-Sinar Laser GmbH. As CEO he led the company for 19 years while it grew to become a globally positioned industrial laser world market leader. In addition Simonsson brings over 10 years experience in directing fast growing technology companies in a variety of sectors including software, MEMS, sensor technology and construction industries.
Samuel Simonsson says: "Powerlase has a lot of potential, an excellent management team and very supportive investors. With its leading technology, high quality and proven products and its applications know how, Powerlase is successfully exploiting current market opportunities and at the same time expanding its product base. I'm excited to be involved at this dynamic growth stage."
At the same time Tony King has been appointed Chief Executive Officer. He joined Powerlase as Executive Director and COO in 2005 after 23 years in the semiconductor and telecommunications industries. From 2000 Tony was at Celestica Inc, the 3rd largest global Electronic Manufacturing Service Company, where he was Vice President Corporate Development and Integration with global responsibility for all Mergers & Acquisition Integrations.
Tony says: "These are very exciting times for Powerlase and Samuels experience and guidance is already proving very beneficial. We're in a very strong position with our attractive and unique offering for demanding applications of global customers. We are going through a strong growth phase right now and are confident that we can achieve our significant, but realistic business growth targets in 2007 and beyond."
About Powerlase
Powerlase Limited is an innovative, independent, high power Laser Company, focused on Diode Pumped Solid State lasers developed for industrial applications primarily for use in the materials processing and microelectronics markets for flat panel displays, microelectronics, automotive and aerospace sectors.
POWERLASE is supported by venture capital from MTI Partners, Deutsche Venture Capital, Cazenove Private Equity, Alice Ventures and FNI Venture Capital.
Powerlase Limited was recently named as the fifth fastest growing venture capital-backed company in the UK in the Daily Telegraph's Business Telegraph Growth Rankings.
For further information
Please contact: Blaise Hammond or Sian Aherne at Fuse PR.
Tel: +44 (0)20 8752 3203
sian@fusepr.com / blaise@fusepr.com