The Ulm Local Court appointed Dr. Helmut Gassel and Stefan Kappis as members of the Supervisory Board of centrotherm international AG, effective January 15, 2026. This appointment was made at the suggestion of the Management Board and the new main shareholder, Ardian Semiconductor. The Supervisory Board subsequently elected Dr. Gassel as its Chairman and Mr. Kappis as Deputy Chairman during its constituent meeting on January 23, 2026. Robert M. Hartung will retain his seat on the board. These changes follow the resignations of previous members Hans-Hasso Kersten and Dr. Xinan Jia, effective December 17, 2025, which coincided with the shift in shareholder structure.
Dr. Helmut Gassel emphasized the board's intent to support the Management Board in advancing the company's strategic development. "Together with my colleagues on the Supervisory Board, I would like to support the Management Board in driving forward the strategic development of centrotherm international AG and unlocking the company's full potential using the resources and network of Ardian Semiconductor," stated Dr. Gassel. He also highlighted the continued importance of Robert M. Hartung's deep company knowledge and historical guidance.
The new leadership brings significant industry expertise directly tied to the strategic interests of Ardian Semiconductor. Dr. Gassel is a partner and co-founder of Silian Partners, a team of semiconductor industry experts with which Ardian Semiconductor maintains an exclusive strategic partnership. His background includes over 30 years of international top management experience, most recently serving on the Executive Board of Infineon Technologies AG, where he was responsible for sales, marketing, regions, strategy development, mergers and acquisitions, and intellectual property. Stefan Kappis is a director in the buyout team at Ardian Germany, with a background in investment banking at Barclays, focusing on corporate finance and M&A.
For business and technology leaders, this board restructuring at centrotherm signifies a pivotal moment in the semiconductor manufacturing equipment industry. Centrotherm, a provider of thermal production solutions and coating technologies for over 70 years, serves critical growth sectors including semiconductors, microelectronics, photovoltaics, and emerging fields like fiber and battery production. The infusion of leadership from Ardian Semiconductor and its partner network suggests a focused strategy to enhance centrotherm's competitive position. The company's role as a supplier to leading power semiconductor manufacturers positions these governance changes as a potential catalyst for innovation and market expansion. The strategic alignment with Ardian's resources could accelerate centrotherm's initiatives in green, smart, and efficient production technologies, impacting global supply chains for semiconductors and related high-tech manufacturing. Further details are available on the company's website at https://www.centrotherm.de.
