News: Microelectronics
29 June 2026
Paragraf forms Advisory Committee and adds to board of directors
Graphene-based electronic device design, development and manufacturing company Paragraf of Somersham, Cambridgeshire, UK is forming a new Advisory Committee that will include Oreste Donzella, Jean-Michel Richard and Thomas Piliszczuk. Donzella and Richard will also join Paragraf’s board as non-executive directors.
Building on a proprietary process to produce graphene directly on standard semiconductor industry substrates, Paragraf has pioneered the delivery of two-dimensional technologies at scale. Integratable with standard semiconductor tool process lines, the firm says that its graphene has unlocked the incorporation of the material into both existing and new electronic devices and applications. Through its world-first dedicated graphene device foundry, Paragraf is delivering high-performance, low-power technologies to multiple markets and offers two-dimensional-material foundry services to customers and partners, providing graphene in chips to their device requirements.
The new, commercially focused Advisory Committee has been established to support the board and executive team as the firm scales production, expands internationally and works towards full integration into the global electronics manufacturing ecosystem.
“The addition of Oreste, Jean-Michel and Thomas to Paragraf’s board and Advisory Committee signals Paragraf’s developing maturity from startup to full-scale semiconductor manufacturing company specializing in advanced materials and devices,” says CEO & co-founder Dr Simon Thomas.
“Having built the world’s first graphene electronics foundry, we are now our cementing position as a major manufacturing business in advanced semiconductor materials,” he adds. “Our new committee members’ comprehensive, global industry experience will be crucial in developing new markets and technologies in the years ahead.”
Donzella is a semiconductor industry veteran with more than 30 years of experience across semiconductor manufacturing and capital equipment companies. He has held engineering and strategic leadership roles at Texas Instruments, Micron Technology and KLA Corp.
A frequent keynote speaker at industry events and a contributor to several technical publications, Oreste was named a VLSI Semiconductor All Star in 2020.
Donzella currently serves as a non-executive director on several company boards and as a senior advisor to a few organizations, including KLA and imec.
Oreste earned a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
Richard is a seasoned chief financial officer and C-suite executive with over 30 years’ experience in technology-driven businesses. He specializes in financial strategy, M&A, restructuring, and scaling high-growth companies.
He has held senior roles including chairman of LPKF Laser & Electronics AG and non-executive director at Ebury. Richard is also a finance adviser to Vitruvian Partners, supporting portfolio CFOs, and a European advisor to UC Berkeley’s SkyDeck, mentoring early-stage startups. He holds an MBA from the University of Geneva, Switzerland.
Piliszczuk is a semiconductor industry leader with over 30 years of experience. He is currently executive VP & and chief R&D programs and portfolio officer at imec.
Previously, he was executive VP for global business and strategy at Soitec, held various management positions at KLA, and worked with DARPA and SEMATECH on next-generation lithography.
In addition to his assignments across the USA, Asia, and Europe, Thomas holds an Electrical Engineering degree from Gdansk University, a PhD from Heidelberg University, and an MBA from Stanford University.
