Menhir Photonics In Strategic Expansion of Executive Leadership

Menhir Photonics, the Swiss manufacturer of ultra-stable ultrafast lasers, today announced the appointment of Dario Leumann as Chief Operating Officer. 

Leumann brings extensive executive experience in high-growth deep-tech companies and will focus on scaling operations as Menhir Photonics accelerates production toward its 2028 target of 10,000+ laser systems annually.

“Dario’s track record of building operational excellence in fast-scaling hard-tech companies makes him the ideal partner as we enter our next growth phase,” said Florian Emaury, CEO of Menhir Photonics. “We’re amplifying what already works for us. Dario’s expertise will help us maintain the precision and reliability our customers expect while delivering at unprecedented scale.”

Leumann’s appointment comes as Menhir Photonics transitions from custom laser development to high-volume manufacturing. The company recently opened its expanded production facility in Dübendorf and has demonstrated breakthrough performance in collaborations with institutions including NIST, Caltech, and leading research laboratories worldwide.

Scaling Excellence: A Conversation with Dario Leumann

What attracted you to Menhir Photonics?

“The combination of world-class technology and ambitious growth targets,” Leumann explains. “When I first spoke with Florian, and later with Beni and Anna, I recognised immediately that we share the same mindset about execution. More importantly, I saw a company that’s already doing things right, my role is to help them do so at scale.”

Leumann’s background includes several years as CEO in similar deep-tech environments, giving him a solid understanding of the global landscape in which Menhir Photonics operates. He adds: “What excites me most is the team’s openness to new ideas. That’s not something you find in every organisation, especially in companies that are already succeeding.”

How do you approach operational leadership?

Leumann draws an analogy from his time spent in the mountains: “When you’re hiking, understanding your environment is as important as knowing your destination. The vision stays constant, but you adjust your path as conditions change. The same applies here: Menhir Photonics’s vision is clear, but as we scale rapidly, we need the organisational agility to adapt our approach without losing sight of where we’re going.”

His focus centres on three areas:

Transparent goal-setting across the organisation: “The key lies in translating strategic targets into measurable objectives,” Leumann notes. “My aim is to make progress visible and meaningful for every team, so everyone understands how their work contributes to our 2028 production targets.”

Scalable process frameworks: “Menhir is moving from developing lasers to manufacturing them at industrial scale. That requires processes that can evolve as quickly as the company grows. I’m here to help build frameworks that enable teams to improve workflows, ensure quality, and scale efficiently, without bureaucracy slowing us down.”

Cross-functional problem-solving: “The best decisions happen when you establish a culture where teams can be empowered in prioritising and systematically addressing challenges of interdisciplinary problems, define realistic strategies, and measure impact. That’s how you build resilience as you scale.”

What does success look like?

“In two years, I want to look back and see an organisation that’s maintained everything that makes Menhir special: the precision, the innovation, the customer focus; while delivering exponentially more systems. Success means our customers see the same reliability they’ve always trusted, our team feels empowered to execute with clarity, and our production numbers match our ambitions.”

Leumann adds: “And honestly? I want people to look at Menhir and see the blueprint for how deep-tech companies should scale. Not by sacrificing quality for volume, but by building the organisational capability to deliver both.”