Canatu names CTO and CMO to support 2030 growth strategy

Appointments expand executive leadership after June reorganization

Canatu Plc has appointed a new chief technology officer and chief marketing officer as the Finnish deep technology company builds the leadership structure needed to deliver its updated 2030 strategy.

Walter Braun, who has held senior leadership roles at Scrona AG, a Swiss developer of precision microfabrication and semiconductor printing technology, will join as CTO on Sept. 1, 2026. Bernd Meier, most recently vice president of global service sales at American robot developer Teradyne Robotics, will join the same day as CMO, the tech company announced recently. 

Vantaa-headquartered Canatu develops carbon nanotube materials, components and manufacturing equipment used in semiconductor manufacturing, automotive technologies—including windshield and ADAS camera heaters—and point-of-care medical diagnostics.

The two appointments follow Canatu's June leadership restructuring, which introduced a new management model under which executive management, business unit leaders, and operational leaders report directly to CEO Maximilian Slawinski. The changes are intended to create clearer accountability and strengthen alignment between business units and corporate functions. 

"Walter and Bernd bring an impressive track record of leadership that combines deep technical expertise with strong commercial execution," said CEO Slawinski, who joined Canatu in May.

Braun brings experience from SÜSS MicroTec SE, Manz AG and Homag Machinery Shanghai across industrial automation, semiconductor equipment and advanced manufacturing. Meier has more than 25 years of leadership experience in sales, product management, and executive leadership across semiconductor, industrial technology, and robotics markets, including Semikron Danfoss and Infineon Technologies.

What Canatu is trying to accomplish

The appointments come as Canatu moves on with its strategy approved in March after withdrawing its previous long-term financial targets earlier that month. By 2030, the company aims to generate EUR 100 million to EUR 150 million in revenue while achieving an EBIT margin of 25% to 30%, adjusted for goodwill amortization under Finnish Accounting Standards.

Semiconductors are expected to become Canatu's primary growth driver through a predominantly recurring revenue model. The company aims to become the leading provider of carbon nanotube pellicle membrane technology for EUV lithography, supported by an installed base of 10 to 20 CNT100 SEMI reactors by 2030.

In automotive, Canatu is targeting commercial adoption of its carbon nanotube technology in full-windshield heaters, ADAS camera heaters and solar cell applications. It aims to have at least one customer reach commercial market entry for windshield heater or solar cell applications by 2030 and to manufacture ADAS camera heaters for at least one high-volume vehicle model.

The company is also seeking a leading position in point-of-care diagnostics for hormone and sepsis testing while manufacturing electrochemical biosensors for at least one commercial hormone-testing application. Alongside its core businesses, Canatu plans to develop two to five focused product families through its New Business Development activities. Capital expenditure is expected to peak at EUR 14 million to EUR 18 million in 2026 before returning to an annual average of EUR 5 million to EUR 6 million.

The ambitious targets follow a challenging 2025. Revenue declined over 29% to EUR 15.6 million as delayed customer approvals postponed revenue recognition and semiconductor reactor orders. Gross profit fell by almost 18% to EUR 11.3 million, EBITDA declined to EUR -8.4 million, and the operating loss widened to EUR -10.7 million. 

Despite the weaker financial performance, Canatu has gained some new orders. It signed a 17-month joint development agreement with DENSO Corporation, entered a separate 24-month automotive development agreement with a global technology supplier, secured a follow-on semiconductor reactor order and achieved ISO 13485 certification for its point-of-care diagnostics program during the first half of 2026.