GaN Systems Inc. announced the appointment of Stephen Coates as VP Operations. The newly-created post is part of GaN Systems' planned increase in headcount at all levels as the company ramps up production of its market-leading gallium nitride devices based on its unique Island Technology® design to supply global demand from design engineers. Coates will be responsible for implementing world-class systems and procedures to handle the company's rapid growth in shipments and production test data, and establishing a local supply chain management presence in the Far East.
He joins GaN Systems from DigiLens, where he was Head of Manufacturing. A seasoned technology executive with over twenty-five years’ experience in engineering, manufacturing operations and supply chain management, Coates has previously held executive posts with leading optical components and systems companies and power/HV semiconductor fabrication and packaging organizations, including VP Operations at Virtuality/SBG Labs, VP Operations at Symmorphix Thin Films Inc, VP Operations with Fultec Semiconductor Inc/Bourns & VP Production Engineering at MaxQ Technology heading up power module development.
Welcoming Coates to the company, Girvan Patterson, President GaN Systems said: “We are delighted that Stephen is joining our senior management team as VP Operations. He brings with him substantial experience in establishing and developing strategic supply chain relationships to support full product commercialization and high volume manufacturing, while also being an expert in device packaging and integration. His role is a key one as GaN technology and our Island Technology® devices become the de facto choice of engineers looking to integrate smaller, lighter and more efficient power electronics into numerous industrial, consumer and automotive applications.â€
Coates has an Honors degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Nottingham (Trent) University, where he also was engaged as a post graduate successfully implementing Manufacturing Excellence within the Hawker Siddeley Power Generation, Transmission and Switchgear Groups. He has several patents granted and pending.
