People

To get where we are today we have leaned into the problems that many thought impossible to solve. Central to our success is our commitment to building a home for exceptional talent.

Who we are

Our ambition goes beyond innovation; it demands a team that redefines technological limits and challenges the status quo. At Optalysys, we value diversity in thought, experience, and background, believing that they are key to our breakthrough moments. We tackle tough challenges with fearless determination, empowered to think big, fail if necessary, but to act decisively and embrace a willingness to learn and adapt. To support our growing team, we prioritise wellness days and flexible working arrangements, knowing that a healthy work-life balance fuels creativity and performance.

How we got here

Founded in 2013 by our CEO, Dr. Nick New, and CTO, Robert Todd, our mission has always been to revolutionise the way we approach computing. To harness the power of light to push the boundaries of programmable computing.

By 2015, our vision took a significant leap with a successful partnership with the Earlham Institute, where we developed energy-efficient and high-speed genetic search systems that demonstrated our commitment to innovation.

In 2017, we showcased our pioneering technology through collaborations with DARPA and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, highlighting our advanced light-speed processing capabilities.

Recognising the evolving landscape of data security, we shifted our focus in 2021 to Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE), exploring the transformative potential of silicon photonics and AI accelerators to safeguard information while driving progress in the field.

Group photo of the Optalysys team in their Leeds office. The team, a mix of men and women, is standing and sitting in a modern office space, with large windows showcasing a cityscape in the background. Senior leadership is seated in the foreground on bright yellow and grey chairs, with others gathered behind them, smiling for the camera.

Our journey reflects a relentless pursuit of breakthroughs and a dedication to pushing the frontiers of technology.

Meet our leadership team

Nick New

CEO

CEO and co-founder of Optalysys, since 2013. With a PhD in Optical Pattern Recognition from Cambridge, Nick has a strong foundation in optical technology. Before Optalysys, he led Cambridge Correlators, shaping their technical development and international growth. At Optalysys, Nick is pioneering advancements in silicon photonics and FHE.

Robert Todd

CTO

Robert co-founded the company in 2013. With a background in optics and engineering, Robert has a rich history of working with industry giants like Seagate, BAE, and CERN. His pragmatic approach and experience from founding an optical manufacturing company guide his work in silicon photonics and FHE, where he focuses on enhancing processing speed and accuracy.

Stuart Mellis

CFO

A seasoned CFO, Stuart drives financial performance at Optalysys. With a proven track record in advising and leading firms through change, he excels in financial strategy, control, securing financing and investment. His strategic insights help ensure sustainable growth and financial stability.

Michael Christoforou

VP Commercial

A Technology Leader with 30 years of experience in product management and consulting. Michael brings his expertise in driving commercial growth and operational excellence, having transformed divisions at Blue Prism and NetApp and led significant revenue growth at Infogain.

Nic Lawrence

VP Product

A strategic product leader with a track record of bringing future-focused tech to market. With roles across startups and global firms, including Kaptivo, Fetch.ai and Lifesize, Nic now leads the product vision at Optalysys to shape the next wave of secure, privacy-first computing.

Gajinder Panesar

Chief Architect

As Chief Architect at Optalysys, Gajinder designs cutting-edge FHE solutions using Digital Electronics and Photonics. His past roles include Chief Technology Officer at UltraSoC and Architect at Picochip, with a rich history at NVIDIA and STMicroelectronics.

Sonal Sidpara

Director of People

Sonal brings a wealth of experience in HR across diverse sectors. She excels in managing teams and developing transformative HR strategies. At Optalysys, Sonal is dedicated to creating a dynamic work environment that fuels growth and maximises potential.

Laura Stanley

Director of Marketing

Bringing extensive experience in B2B marketing across technology and media sectors, Laura leads strategic marketing and communication at Optalysys. She drives impactful marketing initiatives, leveraging her background to shape the company’s market presence and growth.

Tim Whitfield

VP Engineering

With 30 years in the semiconductor industry, Tim develops advanced silicon solutions for FHE at Optalysys. His career highlights include 20 years at Arm, engineering leadership at Imagination Technologies, and collaborations with TSMC.

Advisory Board and Consultants

Dr. Dimitar Jetchev

Advisory Board

Dimitar is the Head of Applied Cryptography at IOG, the leading technology company behind the Cardano blockchain network. His research spans foundational topics such as elliptic curves and their applications in cryptography, and applied cryptographic techniques. Previously, Dimitar was the CTO and co-founder of Inpher, where he spearheaded the development of the XOR Platform for privacy-preserving computing. He is also an affiliated faculty member at EPFL in Switzerland.

Nigel Smart

Advisory Board & Consultant

Consulting for Optalysys, Nigel brings his depth of cryptography expertise from HP Labs, Bristol University, and KU Leuven. He is also the co-founder of Real World Crypto and Unbound Security.

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