Raj Shanmugaraj is a retired technology executive with over 40 years of experience in communications, specializing in IP routing, optical systems and components, and intelligent optical interconnects. He led Acacia Communications from its early startup phase in 2010 through its acquisition by Cisco in 2021, growing it to nearly $1 billion in annual revenue and taking it public on NASDAQ in 2016. Acacia’s innovations in high-speed fiber-optic transmission power much of the world’s internet traffic. Under his leadership, the company earned numerous accolades, including an INC 500 ranking as the fifth fastest-growing U.S. company.

Following the acquisition, Raj served as senior vice president and general manager of Cisco’s Coherent Products and Components Group until 2024. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for MACOM Technology Solutions (MTSI). Earlier in his career, he held executive roles at Alcatel-Lucent and founded Astral Point Communications, a pioneer in metro optical networking, which Alcatel acquired in 2002. 

Raj holds an MS in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Iowa and a BE (Honors) from the National Institute of Technology, Trichy. He completed Harvard Business School’s Corporate Director Certification Program.  A recipient of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Regional Award, he is committed to philanthropy and making the world better for future generations. He is blessed with his family comprising his wife, their two daughters, their daughters’ partners, and their foster dogs.