In an exciting announcement, Optics11 has appointed Derk te Bokkel as President of the Supervisory Board. The update comes as the company continues to navigate a dynamic period of accelerated growth, driven by strong investor support and exceptional commercial traction.
Drawing on decades of experience, Te Bokkel brings innovative oversight and industry-leading expertise to the Board. His entrepreneurial acumen, financial competence, and strategic insight all promise to advance the company’s mission: to scale advanced fiber-optic sensing technologies and protect our sea-lanes, critical offshore infrastructure, and energy supply against disruption worldwide.
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, 23 March, 2026 | Optics11, a world leader in fiber-optic sensing technology for ultra-sensitive early warning systems, today announced the appointment of Derk te Bokkel as President of the Supervisory Board.
Te Bokkel is joining during a pivotal phase of accelerated growth at Optics11. He brings decades of executive leadership experience in high-growth technology companies and industrial innovators, along with a proven track record of guiding ventures from inception to international scale-up.
Currently CEO of Royal IHC, Te Bokkel has held positions as Supervisory Board Member at Royal Terberg Group, Partner at Custom Management, and Chairman of the TB&C Group, among others. Across these roles, he has overseen successful multi-stage equity financing and strategic investment partnerships, strengthened operational and team performance, and led expansion into new markets.
His broader experience in VC-led and technology-driven companies, particularly in sectors where IP, regulatory compliance, and supply chain resilience are critical, provides a solid foundation for Optics11’s ongoing innovation and accelerating growth.
“Optics11 is entering a pivotal phase, where technological and operational excellence must go hand in hand. I’m excited to support the team as we scale globally and strengthen our position in markets where precision, reliability, and resilience are critical,” said Derk te Bokkel. “With its breakthrough fiber-optic sensing platform, Optics11 is uniquely positioned to address emerging industrial and geopolitical challenges, and I look forward to contributing to the company’s continued growth and long-term success.”
Following a €25 million venture debt financing agreement with the European Investment Bank (EIB) in January 2026, this announcement comes at a key moment for Optics11. The company is rapidly accelerating the productization and Europe-wide adoption of its proprietary fiber-optic sensing technologies, transitioning from a deep-tech startup to a commercial scale-up with strong investor backing.
“With Derk as President of the Supervisory Board, we reinforce the leadership required for our next phase of growth. His experience in scaling high-tech ventures aligns with our ambition to build the global technology leader in underwater and grid sensing systems”, Paul Heiden states, “Optics11 plays a critical role in strengthening European technological sovereignty in underwater security and energy resilience, and we are scaling that impact rapidly.”
About Optics11
Optics11 is the world leader in fiber-optic sensing technology for ultra-sensitive early warning systems. Operating from the Netherlands, a country renowned for high-tech industry and maritime innovation, Optics11 works passionately to help protect our sea-lanes, critical offshore infrastructure, and energy supply against disruption.
Download full press release here.
For further information, please contact:
Jasper van Laanen | +31 (0)6 26 46 77 94 | jasper.vanlaanen@optics11.com
