Linköping, Sweden, June 11, 2025: SweGaN AB, a European semiconductor manufacturer specializing in customengineered Gallium Nitride on Silicon Carbide (GaN-on-SiC) epitaxial wafers, today announces several significant corporate developments. Pontus de Laval, Senior Advisor at one of SweGaN’s major shareholders, Navigare Ventures, has been appointed Chairman of the Board. In addition, prominent Swedish industrialist Leif Johansson has joined the SweGaN Board. These appointments, along with other strategic additions to the Board, signal a new phase of growth for the company.
A former CTO of Saab and affiliated with the prominent Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, de Laval brings decades of leadership experience and impactful contributions to Sweden’s technology and defense sectors. Johansson, accredited as one of Sweden’s most influential business leaders and a member of Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences, previously served as Board Chair at Ericsson and AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, and as CEO of Volvo Group and Electrolux, amongst other executive roles.
In the first half of 2025, alongside several transformative Board appointments, SweGaN secured a long-term frame agreement to supply its patented GaN epitaxial wafers to a global leader within RF GaN chip making, supporting a wide range of applications. This milestone supports SweGaN’s growth strategy to become a reliable European semiconductor material manufacturer. In addition, the company’s epitaxial solutions have become the standard materials for several customers.
Further Board Announcements
- Pontus de Laval has been appointed as the new Chair of the Board. De Laval is a Senior Advisor at Navigare Ventures and the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation.
- Leif Johansson has accepted a nomination to the Board of Directors. Johansson has previously served on the Boards of Ericsson, AstraZeneca and Bristol Myers Squibb, in addition to a host of Board and C-level roles in global corporations.
- Gerry Maguire, Atlantic Bridge Co-Founder and General Partner, has joined the SweGaN Board.
- David Lam has stepped down as Interim Chairman and will continue as a Deputy Board member.
“On behalf of SweGaN and our management team, I’d like to thank David Lam for his invaluable contributions over the past three years,” says Jr-Tai Chen. “David has played a pivotal role—alongside the Executive Board—in guiding our evolution from a research-driven startup to a recognized commercial semiconductor manufacturer following our Series A investment.”
“We’re pleased that David will continue as a Deputy Member and are delighted to welcome Gerry Maguire from Atlantic Bridge. Gerry brings a unique blend of experience as an executive, investor, and engineer, with a strong grasp of the European market—an ideal fit for SweGaN’s strategic transformation and expansion.”
“SweGaN plays a critical role in the European semiconductor supply chain, and it is my great honor to welcome three exceptional European business leaders to the Board to support SweGaN in its continued growth,” says David Lam.
“As we enter the next phase of our journey, I’m also very excited to work more closely with our new Chair, Pontus de Laval, and welcome prominent Swedish business leader Leif Johansson to our team,” continues Jr-Tai Chen. The additional combined resources of Pontus and Leif include exceptional networks and deep experience in Sweden’s technology and defense sectors. These additional forces will help sharpen our focus while we scale infrastructure and production—advancing our technological development to strengthen the supply chain resilience and to expand into the power market.”
Pontus de Laval, SweGaN Chairman, “I’m excited to lead the Executive Board and deepen collaboration with SweGaN—a standout Swedish semiconductor company with patented innovation and a highly skilled team.” “With its cutting-edge research and product development, SweGaN is well-positioned to become a global leader in semiconductor material manufacturing, supporting a growing range of critical applications and regional supply chains.”
Leif Johansson, “As Sweden strengthens its position in the evolving European semiconductor industry, success will depend on the innovation, research, drive, and passion of pioneering companies like SweGaN. Collaborating with Pontus, Ted, and the team to shape the company’s future promises to be an exciting journey.”
“I’m impressed by the groundbreaking semiconductor initiatives SweGaN is already part of, supported by Sweden and the EU,” shares Gerry Maguire, Atlantic Bridge. “I look forward to joining the team and helping drive its inspiring growth and impact on the industry.”
Introducing new SweGaN Board members:
Leif Johansson
Ranked Sweden’s 6th most powerful person by Fokus Magazine in 2012, Leif Johansson has held Board positions at AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals (Chairman), Ericsson (Chairman), Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (LJ Member of Board), in addition to senior leadership positions including Electrolux (CEO) and Volvo (President and CEO). His rich background includes Chairman, European Round Table of Industrialists (ERT) and significant contributions that have influenced global industrial and pharmaceutical sectors.
Gerry Maguire
Gerry is a Co-Founder and General Partner at Atlantic Bridge and an experienced Investor, Executive and Design Engineer with a thirty-year career in the technology industry. Prior to joining Atlantic Bridge, he was Vice President R&D at Parthus Technologies playing a key role in the transition from startup to successful IPO on Nasdaq. Gerry also held senior management roles at technology companies including Philips and Texas Instruments.
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About Navigare Ventures
Navigare Ventures, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Wallenberg Investments AB, is a long-term investor specializing in early-stage, science-driven companies. The company focuses on areas crucial for Sweden’s future competitiveness, including AI, quantum technology, synthetic biology, advanced materials, and data-driven life sciences. Established in 2022, Navigare Ventures currently supports over 25 companies. For more information, visit www.navigareventures.com and LinkedIn.
About Atlantic Bridge
Atlantic Bridge is a deep technology growth equity investment firm that invests in semiconductor, artificial intelligence, modern cloud software and cybersecurity companies in Europe and the US. Our team is made up of successful entrepreneurs and senior technology executives, and we invest in strong, ambitious entrepreneurs and management teams that have the passion and drive to scale up and exploit major growth opportunities. We help our portfolio companies expand and grow internationally through our global platform with offices in Palo Alto, London, Dublin, Munich, and Paris.
About SweGaN
SweGaN provides unique solutions for GaN-on-SiC epiwafers based on its groundbreaking epitaxial growth technologyfor the manufacturers of RF and power devices used in applications of telecom, defense, and satellite communications and high-voltage power converters. The high performance of SweGaN QuanFINE® material enables our customers to quickly adapt to the evolving challenges of next-generation high power and high frequency devices, and to create future-oriented solutions. For more information, visit us as www.swegan.se and LinkedIn.
Media Contacts
SweGaN
Leslie Johnsen
Communications Advisor
Mob: +47 41 45 80 43
Email: leslie.johnsen@swegan.se
Atlantic Bridge Ventures
info@abven.com
22 Fitzwilliam Square South
Dublin 2
Ireland
