Experienced vice president of operations joins GaN Systems

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 25 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 organisations, including Vice President of Operations at Virtuality/SBG Labs, Vice President of Operations at Symmorphix Thin Films, Vice President of Operations with Fultec Semiconductor/Bourns & Vice President of Production Engineering at MaxQ Technology heading up power module development.

Coates has an Honours 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.  

Always maintaining a busy schedule, Stephen recharges his batteries driving and maintaining a classic Italian car, hikeing the National Parks, and learning to barbequeue. He also enjoys gardening and aspires to travel to new places, experience new cultures and learn new languages.

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.”