Board of directors

ROBERT VAN DE KERKHOF
Non-Executive Director and Chair

Robert Van de Kerkhof brings over three decades of comprehensive experience in general management and sustainability leadership to his role as Chairman of HeiQ’s Board of Directors. With a profound understanding of the textiles industry, particularly in cellulosic fiber technology, Robert is a visionary leader committed to driving sustainable transformation. Robert has demonstrated his dedication to advancing sustainable practices within the industry. His profound insights and strategic acumen have been instrumental in his role as Chief Sustainability Officer and Board Member of Lenzing AG, a position he held until December 31, 2023. Robert has held prominent positions, including President of the Austrian Fiber Institute, President and Board Member of CIRFS – the European Man-made Fibres Association, and Chairman of the ReHubs Business Council for Euratex. As Chairman of HeiQ’s Board of Directors, Robert Van de Kerkhof is poised to guide the company toward a future where innovation and sustainability converge to create a positive impact on both the industry and the planet.

CARLO CENTONZE
Co-founder & CEO of HeiQ; Executive Director

Carlo studied Environmental Sciences and Forest Engineering (MSc) at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, ETH Zurich. He earned his Executive MBA at the University of St.Gallen (HSG). After his service as an army pilot, he started his professional career as co-founder of the ETH spin-off, myclimate, a non-profit organization and prominent provider of carbon offsetting measures. Since 2004, Carlo has served HeiQ as co-founder and CEO, developing the firm from a two-employee company to an over 200-employee company. He also serves as chairman of ECSA Group, a 108-year-old Swiss chemical and energy distributor with an annual consolidated turnover of over US$300 million, and is a member of the executive board of Science Industries, the Swiss association of the pharmaceutical, biotech, and chemical industries.

XAVER HANGARTNER
CFO of HeiQ; Executive Director

Xaver started his career in finance in 2005 after obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of St.Gallen (HSG). At the beginning of his professional career, he worked with EY Switzerland as an auditor for industrial clients and graduated as a Swiss Certified Public Accountant in 2009. He later worked in various finance positions and led the global finance and accounting team of a listed Korean specialty chemical producer before joining HeiQ in 2018 as Head of Controlling. He was appointed Group Chief Financial Officer in October 2019.

BENJAMIN BERGO
Non-Executive Director

Having joined the board on 30 June 2014, Ben brings a wealth of experience in high-growth technology operations and venture capital. He currently serves as President and CEO of Visus Therapeutics, Inc., an ophthalmic drug development company with offices in Seattle, WA, and Irvine, CA. He has previously served on the board of several high-growth companies, including as a non-executive director at Lumos Diagnostics Holdings Ltd (ASX:LDX), a leading full-service provider of point-of-care diagnostic solutions; as a non-executive director of Planet Innovation Holdings Limited, a healthtech innovation and commercialization company, and he led investments into life sciences transactions at a seed stage venture fund between 2007 and 2011. Prior to this, Ben held management roles at Vision BioSystems, until the sale of Vision Systems Limited to Danaher Corporation in 2006.

KAREN BRADE
Non-Executive Director

Karen has extensive experience of project finance, private equity and asset management. She started her career at Citibank working on multi-national project finance transactions. Karen worked at CDC (Commonwealth Development Corporation), the UK Government’s development finance institution, where she held positions in equity and debt investing, portfolio management, fund raising and investor development. Karen has been an adviser to hedge funds, family offices and private equity houses. She currently serves as chairman of Aberdeen Japan Investment Trust plc; chairman of Keystone Positive Change Investment Trust plc; non-executive director and chair of audit at Augmentum Fintech plc and is an external panel member of the Albion Capital VCT investment committee.