Signify CEO Changes Impact Lighting Industry

Signify (昕诺飞), the world’s leading lighting solutions provider, has undergone significant leadership changes at both global and regional levels in 2025, signaling a strategic realignment amid evolving market challenges.

In May 2025, Signify appointed As Tempelman as its new Global CEO, effective September 1. He succeeds interim CEO Željko Kosanović and permanent predecessor Eric Rondolat, who stepped down after steering the company’s restructuring toward smart lighting and IoT solutions in 2024. Tempelman, previously CEO of Dutch sustainable energy firm Eneco, brings a proven track record: he tripled Eneco’s profitability while cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 40% annually. His background at Shell in Asian, European, and African markets aligns with Signify’s focus on energy-efficient technologies and global expansion.

Simultaneously, Signify’s Greater China division saw a pivotal transition. In January 2025, Karl Yin (殷慷), a lighting industry “legend” with nearly 30 years of cross-sector experience, was named CEO starting August 1. He replaces Olivia Qiu (邱戎红), the Chief Innovation Officer who temporarily held the role since former CEO Charles Qi’s resignation in January. Yin’s diverse background—spanning Philips (12 years), Chinese lighting giant NVC (雷士照明), startup TYOUIS (特优仕), and bathroom specialist Huidar—positions him uniquely to tackle China’s fragmented market. His mandate: reignite growth in a region showing early recovery signs despite 2024’s economic headwinds.

Signify’s leadership overhaul responds to three critical shifts:

Tempelman’s sustainability vision and Yin’s grassroots pragmatism may forge a powerful synergy. Their combined leadership could accelerate Signify’s shift from bulbs to integrated systems—smart city infrastructure, circular-economy lighting, and agritech solutions. For the industry, this signals intensified competition in high-margin segments and deeper localization in emerging markets. As lighting converges with energy tech and AI, Signify’s new CEOs face a dual test: driving profitability while pioneering a carbon-neutral future.