James Regan is a physicist with more than 30 years’ experience leading businesses in the optical communications industry and creating companies out of university research. As CEO and co-founder of recent spin-out Oriole Networks he leads one of the UK’s few system-level optical networking companies. He previously created and led spin-outs EFFECT Photonics and Venture Photonics and built successful businesses within Agility communications and Nortel Networks. He has led businesses in highspeed transmission, photonic integration, optical amplification, photonic switching and optical components and modules.