Optalysys, a pioneering company in photonic computing using silicon photonics, has announced the appointment of Chris Walker as their new Chief Executive Officer.
Walker, based in Santa Clara, will guide the company's forthcoming commercial growth and international expansion. Meanwhile, co-founder and current CEO Dr. Nick New transitions to the role of Chief Product Officer to continue his pivotal work in developing Optalysys' photonics technology and strengthening the US team.
Experienced leadership in photonic computing
Bringing over 30 years of experience in semiconductors, AI, and investment, Walker has a significant track record from his tenure at Intel, where he served as Corporate Vice President and General Manager of the Mobile Client Platforms Group. After leaving Intel, he contributed to Cerberus Capital Management in guiding technology-focused investment funds. More recently, he was CEO of Untether AI, where he launched innovative, energy-efficient computing solutions that led to a strategic acquisition by AMD.
Under Walker's leadership, Optalysys aims to accelerate its technological deployment and commercial growth, bolstering its US team and enhancing connections within Silicon Valley's technology and investment ecosystem. While Walker is stationed in Santa Clara, the company will continue to develop its operations in Leeds and Bristol.
Significant technological advances
In the coming weeks, Optalysys will deliver its first photonic system to a key partner in the US
This strategic leadership change follows a successful year for Optalysys, highlighted by increased customer engagement, international expansion, and significant breakthroughs in photonic computing. In January 2026, the company raised £23M through a Series A2 round, supported by Northern Gritstone, Lingotto Horizon, imec.xpand, and the UK's National Security Strategic Investment Fund (NSSIF).
In the coming weeks, Optalysys will deliver its first photonic system to a key partner in the US, showcasing their newest photonics chip modules. This collaboration allows for large-scale enterprise workflows to leverage Optalysys' proprietary photonics technology, enabling essential computational tasks while implementing AI and secure computing methods.
Vision for future growth
Dr. Nick New, former CEO and now Chief Product Officer, expressed pride in Optalysys' achievements and the team that helped build the company. "As we enter our next phase of growth and commercial expansion, now is the right time to bring in a leader with Chris's experience and global network," said New. He emphasised the growing recognition of photonics in transforming AI and high-performance computing, adding that Walker is well-positioned to capitalise on these opportunities.
Chris Walker also shared his enthusiasm for joining Optalysys, stating, "The demand for AI infrastructure is accelerating at an unprecedented pace, creating a significant opportunity for new computing architectures." He acknowledged Optalysys' groundbreaking photonics platform and expressed eagerness to work with customers, partners, and investors to globalise the commercial adoption of their technology.
A promising future
Duncan Johnson, CEO of Northern Gritstone, commented on Walker's appointment, noting its timely alignment with Optalysys' global ambitions.
"Nick New has successfully led this innovative photonic computing company through its initial commercial development and fundraising. His move to Chief Product Officer will ensure product-market fit at a time when AI is moving at pace," Johnson stated, reflecting on the company's evolving journey.
Optalysys, a photonic computing company using silicon photonics to redefine high performance computing, has appointed Chris Walker as Chief Executive Officer. Based in Santa Clara, Walker will lead the company’s next phase of commercial growth and international expansion. Co-founder and current CEO Dr Nick New will transition to the role of Chief Product Officer, where he will continue to play a pivotal role in developing Optalysys’ photonics technology and building the US team.
Chris Walker brings over three decades of semiconductor, AI and investment experience. The majority of his career was spent at Intel, culminating in his role as Corporate Vice President and General Manager of the Mobile Client Platforms Group.
Technology-focused investment funds
After Intel, Walker joined Cerberus Capital Management, advising technology-focused investment funds on strategy, operations and growth. Most recently, Walker was the CEO of Untether AI, where he successfully brought innovative, energy-efficient at-memory compute to market, leading to the strategic agreement and team acquisition by Advanced Micro Devices (AMD).
With a proven track record of executive leadership, Walker will accelerate Optalysys’ technological deployment and commercial growth, expand Optalysys’s US team and strengthen its ties to Silicon Valley’s technology and investment networks. While Walker will be based in Santa Clara, Optalysys will continue to grow its established sites in Leeds and Bristol.
Major technological breakthroughs
The appointment follows a strong year for Optalysys, marked by customer acceleration, international expansion and major technological breakthroughs in photonic computing. In January 2026, Optalysys announced its £23M Series A2 round, supported by Northern Gritstone, Lingotto Horizon, imec.xpand and the UK government’s National Security Strategic Investment Fund (NSSIF).
The company is delivering its first photonics system to one of its key partners in the US in the coming weeks. The system consists of the latest Optalysys photonics chip modules and allows large enterprise workflows to leverage its proprietary photonics technology and perform critical computational tasks while demonstrating AI and secure computing methods.
High-performance computing
Nick New, former CEO and now Chief Product Officer at Optalysys, says: “I’m immensely proud of what we have built at Optalysys since co-founding the company and of the team that has helped us get to where we are today. As we enter our next phase of growth and commercial expansion, now is the right time to bring in a leader with Chris’s experience and global network.”
“Photonics is increasingly being recognised for its potential to transform the future of AI and high-performance computing, and Chris is exceptionally well placed to help Optalysys capitalise on that opportunity. This is a tremendously exciting point for the company and I am looking forward to working closely with Chris as we continue to scale the business and advance our technology.”
Initial commercial development
Chris Walker, CEO of Optalysys, says: “The demand for AI infrastructure is accelerating at an unprecedented pace, creating a significant opportunity for new computing architectures. Breaking the electron wall, Optalysys has developed a compelling photonics platform enabling compute in data transport that addresses some of the most pressing challenges facing the future of AI and high-performance computing. I am excited to join the team at this pivotal stage in the company’s growth and look forward to working with our customers, partners and investors to accelerate the commercial adoption of this technology globally.”
Duncan Johnson, CEO of Northern Gritstone, says: “As a company rooted in the North of England but global in its ambition, Chris Walker’s commercial experience and appointment as CEO comes at a very exciting point in Optalysys’ international growth trajectory. Nick New has successfully led this innovative photonic computing company through its initial commercial development and fundraising. His move to Chief Product Officer will help ensure product-market fit at a time when AI is moving at pace.”
