Peter Ils

CEO and Chairman of the Board at EDWATEC SA, a Swiss deeptech startup and integrated device manufacturer (IDM) offering rare-earth ion-doped photonic integrated circuits for optical amplification and lasers

Écublens, Vaud, Switzerland

About

General management and operations executive with 20+ years of leadership experience across manufacturing, supply chain, quality, R&D, engineering, and general management. I have held progressively broader leadership roles in international companies across semiconductors, electronics, high-tech, medical devices, precision industrial products, machinery, and civil engineering services. I have also served as a board member in several companies and held leadership responsibility in two startups in the medical device and photonics sectors. I bring a pragmatic, fact-based, and people-oriented approach to helping companies improve performance, scale operations, and navigate change. My core strengths include: · Operational and financial performance: Defining and executing strategies that improve efficiency, quality, cost, delivery, and business results. · Problem-solving and turnaround leadership: Addressing complex technical, organizational, and business challenges with a scientific mindset, financial discipline, and practical execution. · Supply chain and international partnerships: Building integrated supply chains and long-term business relationships based on trust, transparency, and mutual value. · Transformation and continuous improvement: Leading change by aligning teams around clear goals and fostering a culture of operational excellence. · Inclusive leadership: Developing diverse, multicultural teams through fair, supportive leadership, coaching, and a strong focus on people development. I am motivated by building organizations that combine strong execution, technical excellence, and a culture where people can perform at their best.

Experience

  • Chief Executive Officer at EDWATEC SA
    Mar 2025 - Present · 1 yr 4 mos

    EDWATEC, a Swiss high-tech startup, is an integrated device manufacturer (IDM) that offers rare-earth ion-doped photonic integrated circuits (PIC). We provide tailored solutions through our proprietary Erbium-doped PIC technology for compact, scalable, and high-performance optical amplifiers and lasers. Our EDWA (Erbium-Doped Waveguide Amplifiers) are a scalable, on-chip solution for high-fidelity optical amplification, delivering performance equivalent to that of traditional Erbium-doped Fiber Amplifiers (EDFAs), but at a fraction of the cost and footprint. Our distinct advantage lies in access to state-of-the-art nano-fabrication facilities and our team’s expertise in photonics design and measurement. We offer: - Monolithic and hybrid integration of Erbium-doped waveguide amplifiers on silicon photonics. - Custom PIC simulation, design, fabrication, and characterization. - Erbium-based on-chip amplifiers. - Erbium-based on-chip lasers with ultra-low linewidth and C+L band tunability If traditional EDFA spools pose challenges in terms of size, cost, or scalability for your next-generation optical transceivers, data center interconnects, or fiber sensing solutions, please reach out to us. We have a solution for you. If you are a VC, Family Office, financial, or strategic investor looking for an attractive investment opportunity in early-stage photonics, data communications, and AI infrastructure startups, contact us!

  • Managing Director (Division CEO) at Notz Metall AG, Industry Division
    Oct 2019 - Feb 2025 · 5 yrs 5 mos

    Leading 6 business units / independent companies in Switzerland and France manufacturing high-precision, customer-specified strips, foils, wires, profiles, and bars in a broad spectrum of metal alloys. Serving a broad spectrum of end-markets like watchmaking, high-tech, medical devices, automotive, aerospace, and consumer products. Focus points: Organizational redesign, restructuring & turn-around Resolving organizational, people, process & performance problems Coaching and developing people & teams Strategy; corporate development; M&A and business integration Strengthening sales & business development Operational excellence & supply chain resilience

  • Chief Operating Officer, BKW Engineering at BKW AG
    Nov 2017 - Sep 2019 · 1 yr 11 mos

    BKW is an international energy, infrastructure, and engineering services group with 10000+ employees. Since 2015 BKW Engineering has grown rapidly to become BKW's largest services business, a network of operationally autonomous, yet strategically managed civil, infrastructure, energy, and environmental engineering and construction services companies in the D-A-CH region. Defined and built the processes, organizational setup, and leadership structure of the rapidly growing organization while leading the integration and ensuring the stability of newly acquired companies. Facilitated the fast-paced M&A activity and collaborated on setting future strategic directions. Contributed to growing BKW Engineering from 15 companies and 1100 staff to 39 companies with 2800 staff. Supervised performance and reporting, realized synergies, and solved business, organizational, and leadership succession problems in the portfolio companies.

  • Nagravision SA, Kudelski Group (Lausanne Area, Switzerland)
    • Vice President Operations & Supply Chain
      Jul 2014 - Oct 2017 · 3 yrs 4 mos

      Nagravision, a global leader in digital security and convergent media solutions, develops and manufactures HW & SW systems for the delivery and protection of digital TV and interactive content. Directed the production, industrialization as well as quality of encryption technology products (Smartcards, Electronic devices, Head-End Systems) and secure digital assets. Supervised supply chain management including demand and supply planning (S&OP), procurement, inventory management, warehousing, and logistics. Evolved from Head of Production, VP Production, and VP Manufacturing Operations & Supply Chain with continuously increasing responsibilities and tasks. Improved operational performance and processes.

    • Vice President Manufacturing Operations and Supply Chain
      Feb 2012 - Jun 2014 · 2 yrs 5 mos

  • Nagravision SA, Kudelski Group (Lausanne Area, Switzerland)
    • Vice President Production
      Feb 2009 - Jan 2012 · 3 yrs

    • Head of Production
      Oct 2008 - Jan 2009 · 4 mos

    • Head of Supply Chain Management
      Nov 2007 - Sep 2008 · 11 mos

      Directed and improved demand and supply planning, production master planning, and inventory management for smart cards and other devices used in conditional access solutions for the Pay TV Industry.