HeiQ CEO and Co-founder, Carlo Centonze has been bestowed the Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award. This is a testimony to the unstoppable nature and spirit of the man who established and drove the Swiss innovation leader for materials, HeiQ, to its current global renown, the company says.

Carlo Centonze studied Biology and Forest Engineering at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ETH Zurich where he graduated in 2003. Shortly after that, he earned his Executive MBA at the University of St.Gallen in 2007, and after service as an army pilot, he started his professional career as co-founder of the carbon certificate pioneer NGO Myclimate where he took the role of Head of Sales & Marketing”¯between 2002 and 2003.

After that first contact with environmental and sustainable organizations, Centonze went on to co-found the material innovation leader HeiQ along with Dr Murray Height, an MIT graduate. Carlo has served HeiQ as CEO since 2004, developing the firm from a two-employee company to a 210+ employee company as of today.

Alongside his role as HeiQ’s CEO, Carlo Centonze is also proactive with similar projects. He became board of Director of C8 Investments Ltd. for 3 years between 2012 and 2015, and in 2019, he played an active role as Member of the Board of Directors of science industries, a Swiss based business association of chemistry and pharma life sciences as well as Chairman of The Board of ECSA Emanuele Centonze SA, the largest Swiss owned company specialized in the distribution of chemicals.

HeiQ is a leader in textile and materials innovation creating some of the most effective, durable and high-performance technologies on the market today and is listed on the London Stock Exchange Main Market (LSE:HEIQ). HeiQ creates innovative technologies that add functionalities to textiles and materials such as hygiene, comfort, protection and resource efficiency. With offices around the world, HeiQ’s mission is to improve the lives of billions of people by perfecting everyday textiles and materials.

An extremely grateful Carlo Centonze says: “It is a great honour for me, as a representative of the entire HeiQ staff, to receive the unique Swiss Entrepreneur of the Year award and as a representative of all Swiss entrepreneurs I thank the initiators and sponsors. Year after year, I am pleased to see Switzerland in first place for innovation, and as we face uncertain times, it is more important than ever to strengthen competitiveness and productivity and to promote innovation. It is up to each and every one of us to put our heart and soul into ensuring that Switzerland remains innovative.”  

www.heiq.com