The Ulm Local Court appointed Dr. Helmut Gassel and Stefan Kappis as members of the Supervisory Board of centrotherm international AG with effect from January 15, 2026, at the suggestion of the Management Board and the new main shareholder Ardian Semiconductor. At its constituent meeting on January 23, 2026, the Supervisory Board elected Dr. Helmut Gassel as Chairman and Stefan Kappis as Deputy Chairman. Robert M. Hartung will continue to serve on the Supervisory Board. As a result of the new shareholder structure, previous Supervisory Board members Hans-Hasso Kersten and Dr. Xinan Jia resigned their seats with effect from December 17, 2025.
Dr. Helmut Gassel emphasized the board's intention 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. He noted particular anticipation for working with Robert M. Hartung, who knows the company well and has provided strategic guidance and operational support for many years. Together with the Management Board, Hartung has established centrotherm as a reliable and innovative supplier to leading manufacturers of power semiconductors over the past decade.
Dr. Helmut Gassel brings extensive experience to his new role as Chairman. He is a partner and co-founder of Silian Partners, a team of recognized experts from the semiconductor industry with which Ardian Semiconductor has an exclusive strategic partnership. With more than 30 years of international top management experience in the semiconductor and electronics industry, his background includes serving as a member of the Executive Board of Infineon Technologies AG, where he was responsible for sales, marketing & regions, strategy development, M&A, and IP. Stefan Kappis, the new Deputy Chairman, is a director in the buyout team at Ardian Germany and has been involved in numerous transactions. Before joining Ardian in 2014, he worked in investment banking at Barclays in corporate finance and M&A in Frankfurt am Main.
These leadership changes occur as centrotherm international AG continues to focus on its core competencies in thermal production solutions and coating technologies. For more than 70 years, the company has been developing and implementing production concepts for a growing international customer base. Its innovative solutions are applied in growth sectors such as the semiconductor and microelectronics industry, photovoltaics, and new future-oriented fields like fiber or battery production. As a leading, globally active technology group, centrotherm works closely with partners from industry and research to improve existing production concepts and set new trends, generating valuable competitive advantages for customers. Over 700 employees worldwide are working to shape the future under the motto GREEN | SMART | EFFICIENT. Additional information about the company is available at https://www.centrotherm.de.
The appointment of Dr. Gassel and Mr. Kappis reflects Ardian Semiconductor's influence as the new main shareholder and suggests a strategic realignment for centrotherm. For the semiconductor industry, this move may signal increased focus on innovation and market expansion, potentially enhancing centrotherm's position as a supplier to leading power semiconductor manufacturers. The expertise of the new board members in semiconductor management and investment could drive operational efficiencies and growth initiatives, impacting the company's trajectory in competitive global markets. For stakeholders, these changes underscore the importance of governance in navigating technological advancements and shareholder dynamics in the manufacturing sector.
