• Climeworks has appointed Stéphan Truchot as CFO, effective June 1, 2026, as it scales direct air capture and carbon removal operations.
• Truchot brings more than 25 years of finance experience across renewable energy, infrastructure, industrial companies, private equity-backed firms and listed multinationals.
• His recent track record includes a €300 million equity raise and €750 million in financing at Amarenco, positioning Climeworks for its next capital-intensive growth phase.

Climeworks Strengthens Finance Leadership For Scale

Zurich-based Climeworks has appointed Stéphan Truchot as Chief Financial Officer, effective June 1, 2026, bringing in a senior finance executive with deep experience across industrial infrastructure, renewable energy and institutional capital markets.

The appointment comes as direct air capture moves from climate technology promise to commercial execution. For Climeworks, that shift requires more than engineering capacity. It requires capital discipline, investor confidence and financing structures that can support long-term industrial growth.

Truchot will join Climeworks’ executive leadership team and lead the company’s financial strategy as it expands its direct air capture and carbon removal businesses globally.

Infrastructure Finance Experience Comes Into Focus

Truchot brings more than 25 years of experience financing and scaling global industrial and renewable energy companies. His background spans equity and debt fundraising, M&A, capital structuring and engagement with private equity and infrastructure investors.

He joins Climeworks from Amarenco, a European solar and energy storage producer, where he served as Group Chief Investment and Chief Financial Officer. At Amarenco, he executed a €300 million equity raise with a new co-lead investor and secured €750 million in financing for the build-out of large-scale assets.

That experience is directly relevant for Climeworks. Carbon removal projects need patient capital, credible revenue models and strong governance around delivery. They also need CFOs who understand how to move from project development to bankable infrastructure.

Previously, Truchot held senior CFO roles across private-equity-backed scale-ups and listed multinationals. He served as Group Chief Financial and Information Officer at CMR Group, where his tenure culminated in a successful exit. He also held senior leadership positions at SUEZ and Veolia in Paris and Hong Kong.

A French national, Truchot began his career in structured finance at BNP Paribas, working across Paris, London and Beijing.

Investor Engagement Takes Priority

Christoph Gebald, CEO of Climeworks, said: “With Stéphan, we welcome a highly accomplished Chief Financial Officer with the right profile for Climeworks as we enter our next phase of growth. His leadership across infrastructure, renewable energy and industrial businesses, combined with a proven ability to secure significant financing in relevant markets, will be pivotal as we continue to strengthen investor engagement and advance Climeworks’ businesses globally.”

RELATED ARTICLE: Climeworks Unveils Generation 3 Technology, Targets Megaton Carbon Capture Expansion

His comments point to the financial challenge facing carbon removal companies. Demand for durable carbon removal is growing, but the sector still needs to prove it can deliver at scale, reduce costs and secure long-term buyers.

For investors, CFO leadership now matters as much as technology performance. Capital providers will look closely at project economics, offtake agreements, funding pathways and execution risk. Truchot’s appointment gives Climeworks a finance leader with experience across sectors that have already moved through similar scale-up cycles.

Carbon Removal Enters Its Industrial Phase

Stéphan Truchot, incoming CFO, said: “Joining Climeworks is a natural step in my professional journey, having dedicated most of my career to financing industrial responses to the climate transition. I am excited to work alongside Jan, Christoph and Climeworks’ exceptional team to build the financial foundations that will scale technological leadership into long-term commercial and industrial success.”

For C-suite leaders and investors, the appointment reflects a wider shift in the carbon removal market. The sector is no longer defined only by early-stage innovation. It is increasingly shaped by project finance, infrastructure development, policy support and corporate climate procurement.

As governments and companies weigh the role of carbon removals in net-zero strategies, Climeworks’ next phase will depend on its ability to connect technology with financial execution. Truchot’s arrival places capital strategy at the centre of that growth plan, with implications beyond one company’s leadership team. It reflects the broader industrialisation of engineered carbon removal as a climate and investment category.

ESG News Editorial Team

The ESG News Editorial Team is comprised of veteran financial journalists and sustainability analysts dedicated to providing real-time, objective reporting on global ESG regulations, climate finance, and corporate governance. Our desk monitors daily developments from the SEC, IFRS, CSRD and international regulatory bodies to ensure our 1M+ readers receive accurate, data-driven insights into the evolving sustainable investment landscape. Follow the ESG News Editorial Team for expert reporting on global sustainability standards, ESG disclosures, and climate policy. Access over 10,000 investigative reports and real-time updates.