Climeworks Appoints Former HSBC and Microsoft Sustainability Leaders to Advisory Board

ZURICH, May 13, 2026 – Climeworks has appointed Celine Herweijer and Mark Kroese to its Advisory Board, as the company looks to accelerate the growth of the carbon removal market and scale adoption of direct air capture (DAC) technologies globally.

The appointments bring together two senior sustainability and technology leaders with extensive experience in corporate climate strategy, sustainable finance and carbon removal deployment. Both executives have been closely associated with organisations that were among the early adopters and supporters of carbon dioxide removal solutions.

In their new advisory roles, Herweijer and Kroese will support Climeworks on commercial strategy, customer engagement and market development priorities, particularly as more companies explore durable carbon removal as part of their net-zero pathways.

Herweijer previously served as Group Chief Sustainability Officer at HSBC and was a member of the bank’s Group Executive Committee. Prior to HSBC, she was a partner at PwC, where she led the firm’s global sustainability and innovation practice. She currently serves as Vice Chair of the We Mean Business Coalition and holds a PhD in climate modelling and policy from Columbia University.

Kroese brings extensive experience at the intersection of sustainability and enterprise technology, having held multiple senior leadership positions at Microsoft, including serving as General Manager for Microsoft Sustainability Solutions. Microsoft was also among the earliest corporate buyers to partner with Climeworks in supporting the development of durable carbon removal solutions.

Climeworks said the appointments strengthen its ability to support large corporate buyers seeking to integrate carbon removal into broader sustainability and decarbonisation strategies.

Christoph Gebald, CEO and co-founder of Climeworks, said the addition of Herweijer and Kroese reflects the company’s focus on scaling high-integrity carbon removal solutions while addressing evolving corporate demand.

“What has always set Climeworks apart is its ability to attract the very best. I am thrilled to welcome Celine and Mark to our Advisory Board,” Gebald said.

“Their guidance will be critical as we scale direct air capture, drive costs down, and strengthen our leading carbon removal portfolio service to meet growing corporate demand for durable, high-integrity solutions,” he added.

Commenting on her appointment, Herweijer said carbon removal is becoming an increasingly important component of global climate transition strategies.

“Alongside the energy transition, removing carbon already in the atmosphere at scale is one of the defining challenges ahead, across technology, markets and investment,” she said.

“The next phase for carbon removal will be defined by solutions that are investable within large organisations. Climeworks has played a leading role in building this market, and I look forward to supporting the team in scaling and delivering robust, decision-ready carbon removal portfolios.”

Kroese said Climeworks is entering an important phase as it broadens its focus beyond direct air capture technology to offer diversified carbon removal portfolio solutions.

“I’m thrilled to join Climeworks as an advisor, especially as the company broadens its scope to provide a comprehensive portfolio of carbon removal options,” Kroese said.

“The leader in DAC is now the leader in complete carbon removal portfolio solutions. It’s a very exciting time for Climeworks.”

The appointments come amid rising global interest in durable carbon removal technologies, particularly from large corporates in sectors such as technology, finance and aviation that are seeking pathways to address residual emissions that remain difficult to eliminate through conventional decarbonisation measures alone.