Philippe Vanhille

Philippe Vanhille has been Executive Vice President Telecom Division since May 2013. After graduating in Mechanical Engineering in Lyon (France) in 1989, he began his career as a Research Engineer for Renault Formula 1 development, and then moved to the cable industry joining Alcatel Cable in 1991. Over the past 20 years, Mr Vanhille has held a number of positions in the Operations and General Management areas within the cable industry for Alcatel and Draka, followed by roles in the Energy, Copper Telecom and Optical Fibre sectors. At the time of the Prysmian merger, he was head of Draka’s Global Optical Fibre Business Unit and he held the same position within Prysmian Group until his appointment as Executive VP Telecom Business.

Dr Zhuang Dan

Dr Zhuang Dan obtained his Ph.D. in Accounting from Zhongnan University of Economics and Law in June 1998 and obtained the postdoctoral certificate in Business Administration from Shanghai University of Finance and Economics in April 2001. Dr Dan is now the Executive Director and President of Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable Joint Stock Limited Company and a member of People’s Congress of Hubei Province.

Jan Bongaerts

Jan Bongaerts serves as the Senior Vice President of YOFC where he is responsible for strategic business development. Mr Bongaerts has 25 years of experience in the optical fiber and cable industry and prior to his assignment at YOFC in 2013 he worked in various management functions at Prysmian, Draka and Philips. He holds a Bachelor degree in business administration from The Open University the Netherlands, a Master degree in Business Administration from Tilburg University the Netherlands and an Executive MBA degree from Ottawa University Canada. Mr Bongaerts is currently a doctor candidate at the International School of Management in Paris France.

John McGirr

Massimo Arciulo

Seán Adam

Seán Adam is Vice President of Market Strategy and Innovation at AFL. Mr Adam holds a master's degree in Electric Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and has over 25 years of experience in the Semiconductor and Telecom industry with a focus on system-based solutions and architectures. He holds over 15 patents across software and hardware systems and products. Today, Mr Adam is focused on developing and guiding AFL's overall growth strategy in the key markets we serve.

Dr Peter A. Weimann

Dr Peter A. Weimann is the Chief Technology Officer of HFCL’s Optical Fibre and Cable Business Unit, currently based in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. His responsibilities include leading product and process development for optical fibre and cable within the HFCL Group. Dr Weimann has over 24 years’ experience in the fibre and cable industry, starting as a materials development engineer with Lucent Technologies’ Bell Labs, Norcross, Georgia, USA. His technical work has included development of new materials for optical cables, design of cables for Outside Plant, FTTH and data centre applications, and evaluation of the cabled performance of novel optical fibres. Prior to joining the HFCL Group, Dr Weimann was Director of Optical Cable Research & Development – North America at OFS Fitel, LLC, Carrollton, Georgia, USA. Dr Weimann holds bachelor’s degrees in Materials Science & Engineering and Organizational Management from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Ph.D. in Materials Science & Engineering from the University of Minnesota. He has been an invited speaker at the Optoelectronics & Communications Conference and is a 2-time co-recipient of the Spergel Award for Best Paper from the International Cable & Connectivity Symposium. Dr Weimann holds 49 patents related to optical fibre cable technology.

Anna Marciszewska-Jankowska

Anna Marciszewska-Jankowska, Director for International Trade Affairs in Optomer, began her career in 2010 after graduating Faculty of Electronics and Telecommunications of Poznan University of Technology as M. Sc. Eng. in Telecommunication. Together with her team, she is responsible for building professional business relationships with partners from all over the world by developing new passive fibre optic solutions from idea through to design, manufacturing, testing, then introducing to the market.

Li Yunbo

Li Yunbo  received Master Degree from the China Academy of Telecommunication Technologies in 2000. Mr Li is the senior engineer (Professor) and deputy director of optical transmission network at China Mobile Research Institute. He is an expert in charge of the research of Optical Transport Network (OTN) technology applications, setting specifications, promoting the deployment of 100G and 400G OTN/WDM technology, and new types of optical fiber and network intelligence. Mr Li has written 3 books, more than 30 authorized patents, submitted 20 standard manuscripts, and published more than 40 papers.

Wang Guangquan

Wang Guangquan is a professor and senior engineer of China Unicom, focusing on the research, planning and design of telecommunication networks. Mr Wang obtained the 2nd Class Prize of the State Scientific and Technological Progress Awards, and over 30 national, ministerial and provincial awards in China. He has also won the WSIS Prize 2019 (catalog 5) co-organized by ITU, UNESCO, UNDP and UNCTAD. Mr Wang is now the chief engineer of China Unicom Research Institute.

Wu Guangzhe

Wu Guangzhe , Senior Project Manager of SGIT. Mr Wu obtained his Master degree from the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He has been engaged in the construction of UHV and cross regional power grid projects. Mr Wu has successively participated in the construction of HuaiNan-Nanjing-Shanghai 1000kV UHV AC, Yuheng-Weifang 1000kV UHV AC, Northern Shaanxi-Hubei ± 800kV UHV DC, Baihetan-Jiangsu ± 800kV UHV DC, Central Tibet power interconnection project, etc. He is responsible for the construction and management of system communication projects and has won many honorary titles such as ‘advanced individual’ in UHV construction of SGCC. His research interests include electric communication network construction, ultra-long-distance optical transmission, new optical fiber and cable, distributed optical fiber sensing, etc.

Dr Volker Wendt

Dr Volker Wendt has been appointed Secretary-General of Europacable in January 2021. Europacable is the association of Europe’ leading wire and cable manufacturers, working to enable Europe’s decarbonisation and digitalisation. In addition, Volker is also serving as Secretary-General and Executive Director of the International Cablemakers Federation (ICF). Dr Wendt has over 20 years of experience in European Public Affairs. As Europacable’s Director of Public Affairs, he led the association’s EU policy engagements covering energy, telecommunication, environmental and industrial issues. Before joining Europacable, Dr Wendt spent 10 years with Burson-Marsteller, a leading public affairs firm. As Director and Deputy Chairman of the EMEA Energy Team, he developed and led public affairs campaigns in Brussels and across Europe. On a pro-bono basis, Dr Wendt served as Director to the European Fire Academy, EFA, a network of senior European fire officers. Dr Wendt holds a Ph.D. in International Relations from the University of Passau, Germany.

Adrian Amezcua Correa

Adrian Amezcua Correa Global Technical Sales Support, Telecom Solutions at Prysmian Group. Mr Amezcua Correa received a B.S in Telecommunications Engineering from the National University of Mexico and holds a PhD in Optical Fibres from the Optoelectronics Research Centre at the University of Southampton. He holds various patents in optical fibres and more than 50 publications in the field. In 2008, Amezcua Correa joined Prysmian Group Optical Fibre R&D where he worked on the development of optical fibres for telecom and specialty applications. He has had various roles in optical systems product management.

Vincent Garnier

Vincent Garnier is the Director General of the FTTH Council Europe since July 2020. In this executive capacity, Mr Garnier manages and shapes the FTTH Council’s agenda and ensures the continuous implementation of its mission to advance ubiquitous full fibre-based connectivity to the whole of Europe. Mr Garnier brings to this position 25 years of experience in the telecommunications industry, in Marketing and Business Development in EMEA and Asia for BtoB companies. Most recently he was Marketing Director responsible for defining the marketing strategies for the broadband solutions at CommScope, a global network infrastructure provider company. Prior to joining CommScope, Mr Garnier worked in international business development at TKH Group N.V. and as a Marketing Manager at Prysmian Group & Exide Technologies. Mr Garnier has been actively involved in the FTTH Council Europe activities for several years. He became a Member of the Board of Directors and Treasurer in 2019.

Valerie De Houwer

Valerie De Houwer graduated as a Master in Chemical Engineering, with a minor in Environmental Engineering at KU Leuven. There she specialized in the recovery of critical metals from landfilled metallurgical residues, with a consequential scientific publication. Inspired by this experience, Ms De Houwer joined Umicore in 2018 where she now assumes the function of Process & Product Development Manager in the Germanium team and is responsible for the efficient and ecological processing of a variety of recycling streams.

Taketoshi Takahata

Taketoshi Takahata is Manager of the Optical Device Technology division. Mr Takahata received a B.A. in mechanical engineering from Kanazawa Institute of Technology, Ishikawa, Japan, in 1998. He joined Oyokoden Laboratories Co., Ltd. in 1998. In 2001, Mr Takahata joined Oputoquest Co. Ltd., Saitama, Japan, where he has been engaged in the development of advanced optical devices for multi-core fibers and few-mode fibers.

Hans Damsgaard

Hans Damsgaard is VP Marketing & Sales for OFS Specialty Photonics. He holds a masters in experimental atomic physics from University of Aarhus, and an industrial PhD from Technical University of Denmark as well as a Diploma in Economics and International Management from Copenhagen Business School. Previously Mr Damsgaard has been Director in Lucent Technologies and located in New Jersey, and since 2000 on the executive management board of OFS Fitel Denmark – and Managing Director 2007-2018. In 2018 he got responsibility for global M&S for OFS Specialty business.

Rahul Puri

Rahul Puri heads STL sales in the Europe region. Mr Puri has around 20 years of experience in technology and telecom and has earlier worked with Apple, Samsung, LG, and Airtel.

Mohamed Nasr

Patrick Breinessl

Patrick Breinessl is a Product Manager for Fiber in Metal Tubes and Fiber Optic Cables at NBG, located at the NBG headquarters in Austria. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Business and has experience in quality, project, and operations management in industrial and automotive productions. Strong business acumen with a focus on customer satisfaction complements his indepth technical knowledge of fiber optics and manufacturing processes.

Michael Finch

Michael Finch is Head of CRU’s Wire and Cable team and works across the full portfolio of products analyzing key trends and developments in both the metallic wire and cable, and optical fibre industries. Mr Finch is the editor of CRU’s Telecom Cables Market Outlook. He completed his undergraduate studies at Cardiff University where he attained a First Class degree with Honours in Geology. Mr Finch also holds an MSc in Mining Geology (Distinction) from Camborne School of Mines, University of Exeter.

Babatunde Akindele (Tunde)

Babatunde Akindele (Tunde) leads Strategy Development for Global Network and Technology at Verizon. He is responsible for developing technology strategies to ensure Verizon maintains its network and technology leadership. He has led strategy and innovation management across industry verticals within the company, helping to develop several breakthrough business concepts. Tunde has held responsibilities for deal negotiation, growth strategy, strategic planning, corporate venturing and M&A evaluation within Verizon over the past decade. Prior to Verizon, Tunde worked with IXL Center, where he helped fortune 100 corporations develop strategies and commercialize innovative business concepts. Tunde previously held regional leadership role in a multinational telecommunication provider in Nigeria, successfully designing sales expansion strategies, and leading significant business turnaround initiatives. Tunde sits on the Advisory Board of the Global Innovation Management Institute, and he is the North America Co-Chair of the GSMA 5G IoT for Manufacturing Forum. Tunde is passionate about leadership, he is a leadership trainer / coach, and a frequent speaker at innovation management and VC events. In addition, he spends time mentoring startups and small businesses.

Noriyuki Kawanishi

Since Noriyuki Kawanishi joined Fujikura Ltd. in 1991, he had been working mainly for Precision Equipment Division (main product is splicer), growing the said division‘s business as Unit Head. In April 2022, Mr Kawanishi has been assigned as Corporate Officer of Telecommunication Business Unit, responsible for the entire telecommunication business.

Giovanni Ferrari

Giovanni Ferrari is the Executive Director for Business Development at Taihan Fiberoptics. Over a strongly built-up career, Mr Ferrari has gained extensive experience with companies such as Hengtong Optics Electrics, EXFO, Sterlite and Open Fiber, including cooperations as a master tutor with Elis School for the project " Italian Academy of Fiber Optics " as " Guglielmo Reiss Romoli " and performing key technical roles in several projects as " G8 L' Aquila " and " Ti Lab " for MPI Case study for G657 Optical Fiber.

Alain Giraud

Alain Giraud is Director of Sales & Marketing at Rosendahl Nextrom. Mr Giraud is responsible for the Fiber and Optical Cable markets, global accounts and member of the board of the subsidiaries in various countries. He held several management positions in the group and has cumulated over 30 years of business experience in the Fiber, Cable, Pipe and Specialty Fiber industries. Mr Giraud graduated from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) in IT & Telecommunications.

Jan Schindler

Jan Schindler is Global Market Intelligence Manager at Prysmian Group – the world’s leading cable manufacturing company in the energy and telecom cable systems industry. With over 20 years of professional experience in telecommunications, market research, and business consulting, Mr Schindler has a proven track record of developing successful strategic and competitive positioning campaigns for leading technology companies. These include Draka Communications, SSA Global Technologies, and the Baan Company. He contributed to FTTH Council Europe activity as Chairman of its Market Intelligence Committee from 2008- April 2018 and was elected Board Member of the FTTH Council Europe in May 2020. Mr Schindler was also Board Member of FTTH Council MENA from 2015 – 2020 and contributes as Chairman of its Market Intelligence/Development Committee. He holds a MS degree in Business Engineering from the University of Applied Sciences Zittau, Germany, and a Bachelor degree in International Business from Oslo University College, Norway.

David De Craemer