POET Technologies Taps Chip Veteran to Scale AI Optical Engine Production

POET Technologies is bringing in a seasoned semiconductor operations executive to navigate a critical production ramp-up, even as it faces headwinds from a major customer order cancellation.

POET Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: POET) named Silicon Labs veteran Dr. Sandeep Kumar as its new Chief Operating Officer, a strategic move to scale up high-volume manufacturing for its AI-focused optical engines and navigate a complex production landscape.

"Sandeep is expected to play a major role in managing global operations in with an immediate focus on bringing proven talent into our manufacturing organization in Malaysia to prepare it for high-volume production,” POET’s Chairman & CEO, Dr. Suresh Venkatesan, said in a statement.

Dr. Kumar, whose appointment was effective May 11, 2026, brings over 18 years of executive experience from Silicon Labs, where he was Senior Vice President of Worldwide Operations. In connection with his appointment, he was granted 410,397 restricted stock units (RSUs) that vest over three years.

The appointment is pivotal as POET aims to supply over 30,000 optical engines this year and ramp up its Malaysian facility. Kumar’s operational expertise is crucial for meeting this target, especially after a recent setback where Marvell Semiconductor canceled purchase orders, creating uncertainty that his leadership will be expected to address.

Navigating Production and Market Challenges

Dr. Kumar's extensive background in managing global semiconductor operations—including manufacturing, supply chain, and quality assurance—directly addresses POET's immediate strategic needs. His career includes senior roles at Agere Systems and Lucent Technologies and time as a member of the technical staff at AT&T Bell Labs. This experience is seen as critical for POET as it transitions from development to high-volume production of its Optical Interposer platform, which integrates electronic and photonic components onto a single chip for use in AI systems and hyperscale data centers.

The challenge for Dr. Kumar comes just weeks after a significant customer disruption. In late April 2026, POET announced that Marvell Semiconductor had canceled all purchase orders for Celestial AI products, citing an alleged breach of confidentiality. While POET stated it continues to fulfill orders for other customers, including a separate purchase order worth approximately $5 million for its Infinity optical engines, the Marvell cancellation casts a shadow over its growth trajectory.

Despite the setback, the company has been securing significant funding, raising over $225 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 and another $150 million in January 2026 to expand its manufacturing capacity. Dr. Kumar's hiring appears to be a direct deployment of that capital to ensure the operational execution required to meet demand from its remaining customers and win new ones. His role will be central to proving that POET can scale efficiently and overcome recent market turbulence.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.