Executive Leadership Team

Christine was appointed Senior Vice President of Global Sales in November 2021. With over two decades of experience working with multinational tech companies in the semiconductor industry, Christine has the expertise required to lead the execution of IQE’s global sales strategy, further capitalizing on the Group’s position as the scaled global epitaxy leader.

Christine joined IQE from the executive team at GlobalFoundries Inc. (‘’GF’’), a New York headquartered semiconductor manufacturer. Christine joined GF in 2015 as Vice President of Product Management upon GF’s acquisition of IBM’s Microelectronics Division, where she was responsible for the Specialty Foundry Business. She led the transition of this business and client base into the GF Radio Frequency (RF) portfolio, establishing the foundation for GF’s industry leadership in this area. Christine was also an executive sponsor of the GlobalWomen employee resource group.

Christine graduated from Cornell University in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering and has held various engineering, technical management, and executive positions throughout her career. These roles span many disciplines – including leadership roles in Sales, Business Development, Semiconductor Manufacturing Operations, Photomask Manufacturing & Development and Quality & Device Characterization. In 2018 she was nominated for the Global Semiconductor Alliance’s (GSA) “Rising Woman of Influence” award.

Peter was appointed Senior Vice President of the Communications Infrastructure and Security Business Unit in May 2023 and brings decades of experience in the semiconductor industry to IQE. He has significant executive experience in business development and sales across the wireless industry, underpinned by a background in product design and engineering.

Peter joined IQE after over a decade in executive roles at GlobalFoundries Inc. (“GF”), the multinational semiconductor manufacturer, where he was most recently responsible for foundry sales partnerships and business development. In this position he led regional strategy for growing foundry sales partnerships and business development, as well as restructuring the Aerospace and Defence segment. Before this, he was VP of the Wireless Infrastructure and Satellite Communications business unit.

Before joining GF, Peter held various leadership roles at IBM, as well as multiple RF systems and circuit design engineering positions at Ericsson, Raytheon and the U.S. Army Millimeter Wave Lab.

Peter received his BSEE degree from the Stevens Institute of Technology in 1986 and an MSEE with a concentration in RF systems design from the University of Massachusetts in 1991. He is an alumnus of the IBM Executive Management program and the Executive Program for Growing Companies at Stanford University.

Peter has co-authored several papers and published several trade journal articles and blogs and speaks regularly on the trends and developments in the RF communications and wireless technology space at conferences and consortiums across the world. He is a member of the IEEE.

Dr Mark J. Furlong is the Executive Vice President of Global Business Development, Photonics. His career in compound semiconductors commenced in the late 1990’s at Epitaxial Products International following which he held various commercial and technical marketing roles within IQE, which included responsibility for APAC business development. He previously worked for the CRNS in Paris on the development of semiconductor materials for next generation solar cell technology and was awarded an Industrial Fellowship from the Royal Society in London to pursue this work. He holds a Ph.D. degree in semiconductor science and technology from the University of Bath and a B.Sc. (Hons.) degree in Chemistry from the University of London. He also holds a Diploma in Management with Distinction from the Open University, UK.

CEng, CSci, MIET, FIChemE

Dr. Rodney Pelzel has over 20 years of experience in the semiconductor industry, with deep expertise in semiconductor materials engineering and the epitaxial growth of compound semiconductors. Dr. Pelzel joined IQE as a Production Engineer in 2000. For the first twelve years of his career with IQE, Dr. Pelzel held various engineering and operational management roles focusing on scaling leading edge epitaxial technology for volume manufacturing for wireless applications. In 2012, Dr. Pelzel was appointed as the head of R&D for the IQE Group and was tasked with creating unique materials solutions that enable IQE’s customers and provide them with a competitive edge. Throughout his career, Dr. Pelzel has been involved in numerous new product introductions, the most recent being IQE’s highly successful launch of 6” VCSELs for consumer applications. Dr. Pelzel is a chemical engineer by training, holding a BS (High Distinction) from the University of Colorado (1995) and a PhD from the University of California, Santa Barbara (2000). He is a Chartered Engineer and a Chartered Scientist, and a Fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers. Dr. Pelzel’s work has been widely published and he is the co-inventor of 30+ patents.

Tom joined IQE in February 2020 and the Executive Leadership Team in January 2022. He oversees all legal, compliance, government relations, strategic transactions and M&A matters. Tom is also Company Secretary for the IQE plc Board of Directors.

Before joining IQE, Tom held a number of senior leadership positions and has particular experience in technology, IP, manufacturing, corporate and corporate governance areas. Tom is a qualified solicitor and holds a BSc (Hons) in Economics.

Dr Susan Barne has over three decades of experience in the compound semiconductor industry having joined IQE in 1990 after graduating from Warwick University with a BEng Hons degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

Initially she worked in R&D and technical sales and in 1995 she was awarded a Ph.D. in Semiconductor Physics from University of Wales. Devoting her career to IQE, Dr Barne has been influential in building many of the departments and teams that have supported IQE’s growth. She has held management roles in a variety of disciplines including logistics, quality, customer service and export control. In recent years, she was promoted to Commercial Director and then Group Planning Director.

Dr Susan Barne was appointed Chief of Staff in January 2023.

Brian joined IQE in 2015 as General Manager of our Massachusetts site. He became VP of US Operations and Substrates and joined the Executive leadership team in April 2023 and oversees operations across all of our US epiwafer manufacturing sites and substrates division.

Before joining IQE, Brian held a number of leadership positions with leaders in the semiconductor industry with particular experience in fab operations. Brian holds a BSc (Hons) in Chemical Engineering

Simon Dann was appointed Vice President of Newport and Taiwan Operations in April 2023.  With over two decades of operational and leadership experience in the compound semiconductor industry and ten years of R&D background in Scientific Research, he has the expertise to lead the multisite operations of our epiwafer manufacturing facilities in the UK and Taiwan.

Simon graduated from Tamkang University in 1990 with an MSc in Physics and also from National Taiwan University in 2014 with an EMBA in International Business Management.

Steven joined IQE in September 2021 and the Executive Leadership Team in March 2023. He oversees all aspects of IQE’s communications tasked with enhancing the company’s brand reputation, whilst fostering greater employee engagement.

With 17 years of experience working in the telecoms and consumer electronics industry, Steven has a track record implementing strategic integrated campaigns that exceed category performance metrics to deliver against business objectives across the full marketing mix. Steven holds a BA (Hons) in Media Communications.