Canatu announces new CEO: Maximilian Slawinski brings strong semiconductor expertise
Summary
- Canatu announced that Juha Kokkonen is stepping down as CEO, with Maximilian Slawinski appointed as his successor, effective May 11.
- Slawinski brings extensive experience from the semiconductor and automotive industries, having previously led divisions at Soitec and Infineon, and holds a PhD in semiconductor physics.
- The leadership transition aligns with Canatu's updated strategy and long-term financial goals, focusing on scaling its carbon nanotube technology for the semiconductor industry, which is expected to drive 85% of its revenue in the long term.
- Kokkonen will remain as an advisor until the end of the year to ensure a smooth transition, as Canatu aims to enhance mass production and customer engagement under Slawinski's leadership.
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Translation: Original published in Finnish on 5/12/2026 at 8:05 am EEST.
Canatu announced on Monday that Juha Kokkonen, who has led the company for ten years, is stepping down from his position as Chief Executive Officer. Maximilian Slawinski has been appointed as his successor and started the role immediately on May 11. Slawinski’s strong background in the semiconductor and automotive industries, as well as in accelerating growth, provides a solid foundation for advancing Canatu’s growth strategy. Kokkonen will also continue as an advisor to the company until the end of the year to support a controlled transition. A recording of the new CEO's introductory presentation is available here.
Maximilian Slawinski brings strong industry expertise from semiconductor sector
The new CEO has solid experience in the semiconductor and automotive industries. He joins Canatu from Soitec, where he led the Automotive and Industrial Division. Previously, he held leadership roles at Infineon, a major semiconductor company. Slawinski also has a strong educational background, holding a PhD in semiconductor physics. We believe that Slawinski's profile is an excellent fit for Canatu's current stage, where the company aims to scale its carbon nanotube technology, particularly for EUV processes in the semiconductor industry. According to our estimates, the semiconductor sector is Canatu's most significant growth driver by far, accounting for around 85% of revenue in the long term. Slawinski’s previous track record of increasing revenue and profitability at global technology companies is precisely the expertise that Canatu requires for its next growth phase.
Change of CEO comes at a logical stage
Juha Kokkonen has led Canatu since 2016, during which time the company evolved from an early-stage technology project into a publicly traded company with an established position in the semiconductor industry’s value chain. We consider the timing of the change natural, given that Canatu recently announced its updated strategy and long-term financial goals in March 2026. Given Kokkonen's long tenure as CEO, the change is also quite natural. At the heart of Canatu’s strategy is a shift toward scalable value creation, and with the appointment of a new CEO, the company gains a leader who can provide a fresh perspective specifically on ramping up mass production and the customer interface in the semiconductor sector.
Canatu is a technology company active in deep technology that creates carbon nanotubes (Canatu CNT), related products and manufacturing equipment for the semiconductor, automotive and medical diagnostics industries. The company operates through two business models, firstly using their own reactors to develop and manufacture CNT products. Second, the company sells its CNT reactors and licenses its related technology, allowing customers to produce the products themselves under a limited license.
Read more on company pageKey Estimate Figures13.04
| 2025 | 26e | 27e | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 15.6 | 21.8 | 48.7 |
| growth-% | -29.2 % | 39.8 % | 123.1 % |
| EBIT (adj.) | -10.2 | -11.1 | 1.2 |
| EBIT-% (adj.) | -65.5 % | -50.8 % | 2.5 % |
| EPS (adj.) | -0.27 | -0.23 | 0.05 |
| Dividend | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Dividend % | |||
| P/E (adj.) | neg. | neg. | 170.6 |
| EV/EBITDA | neg. | neg. | 44.6 |
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