News Article
EPIC appoints a new Director General to advance semiconductor photonics
The organisation aims to aid members in further developing display, laser, lighting, optical fibre, optic, photovoltaic, sensors and telecommunication technologies
The European Photonics Industry Consortium (EPIC), announced at its annual general meeting that Carlos Lee has been appointed as its next Director General.
Carlos Lee
He will succeed Thomas Pearsall who has led the association since its founding in 2003. Lee will take up the position immediately.
Carlos Lee is currently Director General at SEMI Europe, the Semiconductor Equipment and Materials Industry Association, where he leads the advocacy program. He has 15 years of experience in industry association management and extensive experience in building membership value. In the past he has concentrated on standardisation, collaboration, networking platforms and events, and other activities of collective interest that benefit the industry at large.
Drew Nelson, CEO and President of IQE, and current President of EPIC says, “Carlos’ appointment comes at a time of growth for EPIC. Over the last years we have increased our work in supporting our members and their business and in developing photonics technologies and innovation both in Europe and world-wide. Our objective is to build on this foundation, to further provide a strong platform supporting all actors and in particular SMEs. Carlos has a real passion for collaboration and is excellent at engaging members into working together to create value.”
Welcoming his successor to the role, the current Secretary General Thomas P. Pearsall, adds, “I take particular pleasure to announce the successful completion of our campaign to recruit the next leader of EPIC. We have benefitted throughout from contributions from our membership and our Board in a search and dialogue with candidates with international experience at the highest levels. Carlos emerged as our first choice because of his experience and his energy to drive new initiatives to benefit our members. I will be working with Carlos throughout 2012 to help ensure a successful transition.”
During his address to the EPIC membership, Carlos Lee comments, “As Director General I will further expand the solid value proposition for our members active in displays, lasers, lighting, optical fibres, optics, semiconductor, photovoltaics, sensors, telecommunication and other critical photonic related fields. I am pleased to announce that EPIC will open an office in Brussels. We will implement closer collaboration with the EU in order to better represent the interests of our members and photonics, a Key Enabling technology and future EU Public-Private Partnership.”
With 80 voting members and over 400 associate members, EPIC is one of Europe’s leading photonics industry associations. It promotes sustainable development for European organisations working in photonics. Working together, EPIC members have played a leading role in creating and operating the European Technology Platform, Photonics-21, as well as many influential European projects, such as LIFT for fibre laser development, and Nexpresso which supports commercial innovation by SMEs.
