Management Team
CSignum’s leadership team is led by leaders of strategy, sales and engineering. The team sets company strategy, drives innovation and supports a culture of collaboration, integrity and a customer first mindset.
John Nicholls is an experienced CEO and CCO who is passionate about using science and technology to make a difference in the world. John initially gained a PhD in physics (photonics) and joined his first business as a spin-out from a US lab. He has founded and helped to scale several businesses, including Photonic Materials (sold to Saint Gobain), TMRI (£50m translational medicine JV), M Squared Lasers (5x return to BGF) and Trojan Energy (sold to Connected Kerb).
John has operated across diverse markets, including photonics, quantum computing, semiconductors, space instruments, medical imaging (PET), AR/VR, translational medicine, EV charging and social media. Through this journey John has raised c£100m in funding; cumulative revenues to date in these businesses exceeds £300m.
John was a founding member of the Scottish Science Advisory Committee (SSAC), advising the Scottish GovernmenT, and is an active Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (Scotland’s national academy).
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Mark Rhodes is CSignum’s Chief Technology Officer with over 30 years of technology leadership and engineering experience, including significant roles at SKF, Agilent, Motorola, GEC-Marconi, BAE Systems, and WFS Technologies. As an esteemed Electronics Engineer, Mark has spearheaded numerous technological advancements, holding over 30 granted patents. He is notably the original inventor of digital through-water communications and groundbreaking innovations in areas such as cellular communications, airborne radar, industrial condition monitoring, and fiber optic communications.
Throughout his career, Mark has played a crucial role in technology companies, managing the full cycle from conceptualization to successful commercialization. His expertise encompasses system design and integration, radio communications systems, microwave design, and leading project and engineering teams, with a focus on aligning technology business strategy with organizational goals.
A Blackbelt in the Motorola Six Sigma quality improvement program, Mark champions precision and efficiency in all engineering processes. He firmly believes that the CSignum solution is just the beginning of what’s possible with their electromagnetic field-based platform as the world extends the Internet of Things to encompass the underwater and underground domains.
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Rob Soni is an entrepreneur and investor with a career spanning over 25 years with a significant history of accomplishments. From starting or co-founding multiple ventures across diverse sectors such as networking, storage, service providers, SaaS, and consumer goods, to orchestrating successful acquisitions and IPOs.
As Director and EVP of Corporate Development, Business Development and Strategy, Rob brings a wealth of experience to the forefront, charting a strategic course for CSignum’s organizational growth and innovation. Leveraging his business and investment experience and industry contacts, he spearheads initiatives to identify and capitalize on emerging opportunities, fostering strategic partnerships and alliances to propel the company forward.
Following his graduation from Harvard College, Rob began his career at The Boston Consulting Group, followed by roles at Bessemer Venture Partners and Matrix Partners. Rob will infuse a blend of strategic insight and entrepreneurial acumen into every facet of corporate development. Rob’s leadership role will be instrumental in shaping the company’s trajectory.
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Graeme Boyce is the COO at CSignum and brings over 20 years of leadership experience driving operational transformation and scalable growth across manufacturing, engineering, cleantech, and high-growth technology sectors. His track record includes delivering significant EBIT and revenue growth, alongside successfully restructuring and scaling businesses across diverse organisational environments.
In addition to his extensive leadership background, Graeme brings deep expertise in operational strategy, commercial development, and technology commercialisation. He has been instrumental in establishing operational frameworks, developing reseller and channel strategies, and supporting the transition from R&D to full commercial deployment within CSignum’s target markets.
Graeme also provides leadership across business development, process optimisation, ensuring alignment between strategy and execution. His hands-on approach enables CSignum to scale effectively, strengthen partnerships, and deliver operational excellence as the business expands into new markets.
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Steve Buchan is the Service Delivery Manager at CSignum and brings over 15 years of expertise as a Service Engineer and Area Service Manager for a leading global supplier of capital equipment across the electronic manufacturing, medical, and solar/PV sectors. This experience, coupled with a decade-long tenure in oil and gas exploration as an electronic technician aboard a state-of-the-art drillship, demonstrates that Steve is adept at navigating diverse technical landscapes.
In addition to his extensive background, Steve seamlessly integrates project management capabilities including spearheading customer-centric processes and initiatives aimed at elevating service standards and ensuring unparalleled customer satisfaction. Leveraging his multifaceted experience, Steve orchestrates projects with precision, delivering tangible results that exceed expectations.
Steve is also responsible for Quality, Health, Safety, and Environment (QHSE) protocols on a day-to-day basis, underscoring his commitment to operational excellence and was proactive in the seamless implementation of CSignum’s new ERP system to ensure streamlined operations and enhanced efficiency across the organization.
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Jackie Lonie is the Office and Finance Manager supporting CSignum’s diverse business needs and ensuring smooth operations on a day-to-day basis. Managing both personnel and finance matters, Jackie’s experience also includes multinational trade, manufacturing, underwater communications, and oil and gas operations. She has also been instrumental in securing ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001 accreditation and working with Steve Buchan on the Company’s health and safety compliance initiatives.
With an HND in Leadership and Management, Jackie recently earned a BA (Hons) with Distinction in Business Management from Napier University. Jackie has a passion for data-driven decision-making and process optimization, consistently maximizing efficiency and driving results.