News: Suppliers
5 September 2025
CSA Catapult appoints Caroline O’Brien as CEO
Compound Semiconductor Applications (CSA) Catapult has appointed Caroline O’Brien as its new chief executive officer, joining in late September.
Established in 2018 by government agency Innovate UK, CSA Catapult is a not-for-profit center of excellence with labs and offices across the UK that specializes in the measurement, characterization, integration and validation of compound semiconductor technology spanning power electronics, advanced packaging, radio frequency and microwave, and photonics applications.
Semiconductor industry specialist O’Brien is currently CEO of micro-LED material technology company Kubos Semiconductors Ltd (which was spun out of the UK’s University of Cambridge in 2017) and has over 30 years of experience in the technology sector, where she has developed a broad knowledge of working with venture capital-backed businesses and blue-chip mult-inationals. She has held senior commercial and executive positions in several companies, focusing on developing and commercializing new technologies and products. O’Brien holds a B.Eng in Electronics and Electrical Engineering and an MBA from the University of Bath.
Picture: CSA Catapult’s new CEO Caroline O’Brien.
Martin McHugh stepped down as CEO of CSA Catapult in March and Raj Gawera, who joined the board in 2021, was appointed CEO on an interim basis from 1 April and will return to his previous role as non-executive director. “I return to the board with much better insight into how to steer the Catapult to growth and greater success,” he says.
“I would like to thank Raj Gawera for leading the Catapult at such an important time and guiding the organization to meet the challenges of commercialization and the mobilization of the UK Semiconductor Centre,” says Jonathan Flint, chair of CSA Catapult’s board of directors. “He has brought fresh perspectives, drawing on his extensive industrial experience and made a significant contribution to the future potential of the Catapult. This will help to deliver a smooth transition as Caroline takes on the leadership of the Catapult.
“Caroline brings extensive industry experience, deep technical expertise, and valuable perspectives of leading and growing a semiconductor company,” comments Flint. “Caroline’s experience in commercialization and scaling a business will be crucial as the Catapult supports the UK’s Industrial Strategy and the new UK Semiconductor Centre. Her background will help the Catapult become more commercial, enhance support for SMEs, and deliver technical excellence to new partners. This is an important time for the semiconductor sector globally, and there are significant opportunities and partnerships for the Catapult to capitalize on and help grow the UK economy,” he adds.
“I look forward to working with the highly qualified and talented team, in order to navigate the business through the next phase of commercialization and beyond,” says O’Brien. “Together, we can embrace the opportunities for growth, across a number of semiconductor markets, and thus increase revenue, help deliver the UK industrial strategy and develop economic prosperity,” she adds.
“Caroline joins at a pivotal time, as the UK accelerates its position as a global lead in commercializing compound semiconductor technologies as part of our industrial strategy,” notes Gary Cutts, Innovate UK’s executive director for Digital and Technologies.
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