Vexlum appoints laser industry expert Erik McKee as President of the Americas to accelerate growth
The appointment strengthens Vexlum’s presence across North and South America as demand for advanced VECSEL-based laser engines grows across quantum technology, semiconductor, space, medical, and scientific research.
DENVER, Colorado (September 1, 2026) – Vexlum, the global leader in high-power semiconductor Vertical-External-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser (VECSEL) technology, today announced the appointment of Erik McKee as President of the Americas. Based in Denver, Colorado, McKee will oversee Vexlum’s operations and growth across North and South America, supporting accelerating demand for the company’s laser technology in quantum, semiconductor, space, medical, and other advanced industrial and scientific applications.
The appointment underscores Vexlum’s rapid growth in the Americas, where its VXL laser system has emerged as a transformative platform for scaling atom- and ion-based quantum computers, among other applications. By reducing the volume of traditional tabletop and rack-mounted laser platforms by more than 20-fold into a compact two-liter system, the VXL platform replaces bulky laboratory instrumentation with an integrated laser engine.
Vexlum’s technology traces its roots to a partnership between semiconductor experts at Tampere University in Finland and the quantum research group of Nobel laureate David Wineland at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Colorado. This foundation has established Vexlum as the industry benchmark for VECSEL technology, providing the reliability and operational stability required across a range of quantum applications including quantum computing, quantum networking, quantum sensing, and transportable optical clocks.
“With the market shifts and growth we’re seeing, we are extremely excited to have Erik join Vexlum,” said Jussi-Pekka Penttinen, CEO and Co-founder of Vexlum. “His perspective and experience within the laser industry will be a critical addition as we work to best support our customers across a wide range of fields and applications. Erik’s experience in laser development will also be a valuable resource as we continue to bring our laser platform to new applications and industrial use cases.”
The versatility of Vexlum’s “any-wavelength” capability allows the company to simultaneously service an expansive range of high-growth applications across diverse industries. This includes high-power UV lasers for applications such as semiconductor inspection, as well as specialized yellow guide-star lasers for space awareness. The compact, resilient design of the VXL platform further establishes Vexlum as a vital partner for the next generation of transportable optical clocks and advanced scientific research.
McKee brings more than a decade of experience delivering complete laser solutions across the scientific and industrial communities, with deep expertise spanning the UV through mid-IR wavelength ranges. His work has supported a broad array of research and industrial applications, with a particular focus on the rapidly growing quantum sector, including quantum computing, sensing, networking, and positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT).
McKee holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees in physics and optics from the University of Central Florida (UCF), where his research focused on laser technology research and development. He went on to work in industrial R&D, advancing solid-state laser architectures, including thin-disk, slab, fiber, and rod technologies.
“Throughout my career, I have been driven by a passion for science and by the opportunity to support the technologies that make new discoveries possible,” said McKee. “I am excited to strengthen Vexlum’s presence across the Americas and to work closely with the scientific and industrial communities here to help advance their projects with these next-generation laser solutions.”
“Vexlum’s vertical integration and ability to grow and process semiconductor materials in-house is a massive benefit for quality control, rapid prototyping, development, and supply chain and risk management,” McKee continued. “Pairing that with the team’s laser development and systems integration expertise puts Vexlum in a unique position for rapid growth and innovation to support the market’s growing needs.”
###
Vexlum Contact
Erik McKee, President of the Americas
Email: erik.mckee(at)vexlum.com