Dr. Michael Lebby
President and CEO
Optoelectronics Industry Development Association
Dr. Michael Lebby joined OIDA as Executive Director in 2005 and became its President and CEO in February 2006. With more than 175 U.S. patents issued in optoelectronics, Dr. Lebby’s career has spanned all aspects of the optoelectronics business, from research and development, operations, manufacturing, and finance, to sales, marketing, and investing.
In 1985, Dr. Lebby’s research took him to AT&T Bell Laboratories, followed in 1989 by a move to Motorola’s Phoenix Corporate Research Laboratory in Phoenix, Arizona. Early in 1997, he became a R&D Business Technology Development Manager where he managed all aspects of advanced technologies in corporate R&D.
In August 1998, Dr. Lebby joined AMP as a member of the Global Optoelectronics Division's management team, where he was responsible for growing AMP's fiber optic datacom and telecom business through external interactions that include mergers, acquisitions strategic alliances, and technical strategic planning. In 1999, Dr. Lebby joined Intel as a corporate investor and was responsible for sourcing, negotiating, and closing private placement equity deals in the optical networking, component, and semiconductor arenas.
In 2001, Dr. Lebby founded a new fiber optics company, Ignis Optics, where he served as the CEO, President, and Board Member in addition to acting VP of Sales, Marketing and Business Director during the growth phases. Bookham Technology acquired Ignis Optics in October 2003 and Dr. Lebby became responsible for corporate and technical strategy at Bookham Technology.
In 2005, the IEEE Board of Directors elected Dr. Lebby to IEEE Fellow for contributions to optoelectronics technology. In 2007, Lebby became an OSA Fellow for his photonics leadership and contributions to VCSEL technology.