Organization

With more than 25 years of international experience in the semiconductor, IoT, and embedded systems industries, Matthias, a German national, brings strong global leadership across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Since 2018, he has served as Chief Sales & Marketing Officer at Swissbit AG, driving worldwide commercial strategy and market expansion. Previously, he co-founded Efficiency Zone GmbH and held senior roles at NXP Semiconductors and EnOcean GmbH, leading global businesses in smart mobility, retail, and energy-harvesting wireless solutions.

Matthias also spent 17 years at Texas Instruments in senior sales, marketing, and general management positions in Europe and the United States, leading global teams across product development, engineering, and customer engagement. He holds a Diplom-Ingenieur degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Technische Universität Darmstadt and an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.

Andreas Thiel is Head of Product Centers at u-blox AG, a role he took on in early 2019. From 1997 to 2012, he was Executive Vice President R&D Hardware of u-blox AG, and from 2007 to 2012 he served as Executive Vice President (R&D Hardware) of u-blox Holding AG. From 2012 to 2019, he acted as Executive Director Cellular Product Development. He holds a degree in electrical engineering from Aachen University (RWTH) in Germany. From 1994 to 1997 he was a research assistant and project manager at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH). In 1997, he co-founded u-blox AG.

Jean-Pierre Wyss co-founded u-blox AG in 1997. Since the incorporation of u-blox Holding AG in 2007, Jean-Pierre Wyss served as a Member of the Board of Directors and, until 2011, as CFO. Currently, he is Head of Production and Logistics of u-blox AG. From 1995 to 1997, he was a research assistant and project manager at ETH. Jean-Pierre Wyss is a Member of the Board of Ardo Medical AG, Switzerland. He holds a degree in electrical engineering from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH) and a Finance for Executives diploma from INSEAD in Singapore. He is a citizen of Switzerland.

Christian Spörri is CFO of u-blox AG, a role he assumed in June 2026. Prior to this, he served as Global Head of Accounting, Reporting and Tax at u-blox AG from April 2022, with overall responsibility for the Group’s global accounting, reporting and tax functions. He is a seasoned finance executive with extensive experience in financial leadership, controlling, and reporting. Throughout his career at u-blox AG, Cicor Technologies Ltd., and KPMG Switzerland, he has been deeply involved in M&A, divestitures, business planning, restructurings, financing, and audits. Christian is a Swiss Certified Public Accountant and holds an Executive MBA from the University of St. Gallen.

Claudio Simao has more than 30 years of experience in the global semiconductor and technology industry, of which 18 years in various management roles at Hexagon AB, including Global Business Unit CEO, Corporate CTO and CEO, and President of the Ventures Division (2002-2020). Prior to joining Hexagon, Claudio founded and led 5 companies across various industries (1995-2008). Today, he serves as a Venture Partner at ETF Partners and advises various companies on their strategies and investment decisions.

Claudio graduated in Engineering and Physics and MSc in Mechatronics at the Polytechnic University of Sao Paulo and had a prior Academia technology-scientific career with various books, patents and awards.

Ronald Ayles has more than 25 years of experience in Private Equity and is a Managing Partner at Advent, a global private equity firm with more than $94 billion of assets under management. He is a member of the European Investment Advisory Committee and heads the firm's global Chemicals and Materials practice. Prior to joining Advent, he worked at 3i where he established the investor's Chemicals and Materials practice. Before moving into Private Equity, Ronald spent 10 years in industry at Degussa AG.

Ronald holds an MBA from the JL Kellogg Graduate School of Management and the WHU Koblenz (Germany), as well as degrees from ESB Reutlingen and the universities of Granada and London. He is also trained as an ‘Industriekaufmann’.

Bernhard Spetsman has more than 30 years of experience in financial executive roles, including CFO at Autobahn Tank und Rast, Oxea, and Röhm (ad-interim). Today, he serves as a member of the Supervisory Board of Caldic and Röhm. Bernhard started his career at the accounting firm Arthur Andersen.

Bernhard studied business administration at the University of Münster and qualified as a Chartered Accountant and Tax Advisor.