Team & Values
PhotonFirst is building an amazing team of true professionals to support you develop, build and apply state-of-the-art integrated photonics sensing technology. Below you find their names and unique faces. Do you want to meet them in person? Let us know!
Board
Enabling these talented team members to deliver most value for our customers and continuously develop and stay ahead of their peers in the market, PhotonFirst is lead by a Board of four.
Rogier Vos
CCO
Rogier Vos is responsible for Marketing & Sales in the Board of PhotonFirst. 20+ years of business experience, successfully leading change, M&A, managing sales & marketing, business development and operations in local and international settings have made him an entrepreneurial-minded business development professional with a passion for innovation and change. With a track record in the manufacturing industry, services and healthcare, he is creating a competitive advantage and adds value to the bottom line. He is a known inspirational and energetic manager, who loves working within a team on a forward-thinking while hands-on approach.
Nick Singh
CTO
Nick Singh owns the technology agenda of PhotonFirst. He leads the Research & Development teams jointly executing on our ambition to become and stay innovation leader in our field. Nick is a Fellow and Chartered Engineer of the UK Institute of Engineering & Technology (IET) with a PhD in Plasma Physics from University Paul Sabatier in Toulouse (F). He gained extensive expertise is in multidisciplinary engineering and new product introduction in high-tech market segments like semiconductors, photonics, flexible electronics, analytical instrumentation, water and energy. Nick brings over 25 years of experience and track record of consistently delivering innovative and commercially successful new technology products and services to customers in the UK, Europe, China, South Korea and the USA.
Leendert-Jan Nijstad
Managing Director
Leendert-Jan Nijstad is responsible for day2day execution at PhotonFirst. He leads the project management and operations functions and chairs the Management Team. Before this entrepreneurial dive in the photonics world, he gained substantial experience in the Aerospace industry as Head of Operations for a major Tier-1 Landing Gear supplier - almost doubling that company in size. Previously he run a business line in Aerospace maintenance, led a merger of 2 US companies and setup project management functions at various business units.
John de Kok
CEO
John de Kok leads the board of PhotonFirst. His career has taken him from scientist to board member of a multinational organization, partner at a big 4 consulting firm and eventually serial entrepreneur. In different types of organizations and ecosystems, he has gained experience in change, M&A, managing sales & marketing, business development, engineering and operations. John believes that innovation is fundamental to creating a healthier world and his personal purpose is to foster knowledge and networking. In addition to PhotonFirst, he is also CEO of the deep-tech organization Technobis Group, of which PhotonFirst is a spin-off, and is a supervisory board member of several healthcare organizations and a lecturer at a university.
Values
The best way to characterize our team is through its values. We are passionate pioneers in integrated photonics sensing collaboratively shifting the paradigm of measuring strain, shape, temperature or pressure. We are persevering and determined to help our customers win in their end-markets with an open mind and friendly attitude.
