PIONEERING Scottish smart antenna designer Sofant Technologies Limited has appointed David Wither as CEO following its announcement earlier this year of more than £1.5 million of European funding.

Wither will play a major role in developing and implementing a strategic business plan to take Sofant’s technology to market, including forming a number of strategic partnerships.

Edinburgh-based Sofant says its steerable antenna technology could potentially double the battery life of mobile devices and greatly reduce energy usage in wireless networks.

With more than 20 years of experience in radio technologies and more than 10 as a CEO, Wither has a strong background in technology sales and business development. Most recently, he raised $3m in venture capital for Acconeer AB and developed a detailed strategy to bring the company’s wireless sensor technology to market.

Wither said: “The technology developed by the team at Sofant is currently leading the field, and there are many potential applications and possibilities when it is taken to market.

“A central part of my job now is to find the right market for us, develop a series of strategic partnerships, make sure we can scale up the manufacturing process to meet demand and ensure the product is ready for the future market in two to three years.

“There are great resources in Scotland for tech companies, including the support we receive from the University of Edinburgh.”