A Unified Command for the Quantum Era: IQM Appoints Jan Goetz as Sole CEO
Dr Jan Goetz
IQM Quantum Computers made a significant shift to a single-CEO leadership paradigm, marking the development of one of Europe’s most notable deep-tech success stories. Dr. Jan Goetz, the company’s co-founder and former co-CEO, will serve as the only CEO.
As the Finnish quantum pioneer transitions from its fast-paced startup phase into a phase centered on sustainable global expansion and industrial-grade execution, this strategic pivot represents a key milestone. Dr. Søren Hein, who has been appointed Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Deputy CEO, will assist Goetz in this new phase.
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A Unified Vision for the Quantum Maturity
After two years under a dual-leadership organization, the changeover occurs. To maintain continuity, Mikko Välimäki, who was Goetz’s co-CEO, is leaving his commercial position but will stay on as an advisor until March 31, 2026. The co-leadership style, according to the board of directors, was crucial in helping IQM get through its busiest growth years, which included the biggest Series B fundraising round in the history of quantum computing outside of the US.
“Over the past two years, IQM has benefited greatly from the dual CEO approach,” stated Dr. Sierk Poetting, Chairman of IQM’s Board of Directors. “IQM is in a position to deliver the next phase of sustainable global expansion and long-term growth by transitioning to a single-CEO structure, which reflects the organization’s maturity.”
IQM hopes to improve decision-making and focus on the “fault-tolerant” era the point at which quantum systems are robust enough for widespread industrial use by unifying leadership under Jan Goetz.
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The Architect of IQM’s Rise: Jan Goetz
Having spun IQM out of Aalto University and the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland in 2018, Jan Goetz is a key player in the quantum landscape. With more than $600 million in capital raised under his direction, IQM has become a world leader in superconducting quantum computing.
Goetz has a significant impact on global innovation and policy circles:
- European Innovation Council (EIC): Currently serves as an EIC Ambassador after serving on the board.
- World Economic Forum: Acknowledged as a Global Innovator and Digital Leader.
- Industry Leadership: A member of the German Federal Economic Senate and a board member of the European Quantum Industry Consortium (QuIC).
- Academic Background: Previously a Marie-Curie Fellow in Helsinki, she holds a doctorate in superconducting circuits from TU Munich.
Goetz said of the reorganization, “IQM is well positioned to meet the evolving needs of AI-driven organizations and high-performance computing (HPC) centers.”
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Strengthening Operations: The Role of Søren Hein
The purpose of Dr. Søren Hein’s appointment as COO and Deputy CEO is to strengthen the business’s operational foundation. Hein has been an investor and technology leader for more than 30 years. Interestingly, he oversaw Deeptech investments at MIG Capital, which oversaw IQM’s 2019 seed round.
Hein, who holds an MBA from INSEAD and a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from UC Berkeley, possesses the skills required to grow a hardware-focused IT company. His responsibilities include managing the daily implementation of IQM’s strategy, which includes setting up systems throughout Europe and Asia and growing production facilities.
A Banner Year for Global Expansion
The succession of business triumphs is followed by the shift in leadership. IQM claimed to have shipped and sold more on-premises quantum computers in the last 12 months than any of its international rivals. Governments and businesses that care about data sovereignty are drawn to this model, in which the computer is physically placed at the customer’s location.
Recent significant achievements include:
- Production Expansion: The company is investing €40 million to develop its production plant in Finland, with a particular focus on sophisticated quantum processing units (QPUs).
- Launch of Halocene: Halocene, a new product line with a 150-qubit device made especially for quantum error correction research, is introduced.
- Spanish Partnership: The Galician Supercomputing Center (CESGA) will get a 54-qubit “IQM Radiance” system from Telefónica.
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The Road to Quantum Advantage
Achieving “quantum advantage,” or the moment at which quantum computers are able to tackle problems that are beyond the capabilities of traditional supercomputers, is the task that Goetz faces as he assumes leadership of the company alone. With HPC centers increasingly seeking to use quantum computers as “accelerators” for intricate AI and simulation workloads, the industry is currently at a turning point.
With more than 300 employees now, IQM is present in the United States, Finland, France, Germany, Spain, Japan, and South Korea. The corporation communicates to investors and consumers that it is prepared to function with the rigor of a multinational digital behemoth while rushing toward the next computer revolution by simplifying its leadership.
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