/ 
The handover at the head of Candela marks a classic evolution in the life of a shipyard, as it moves from a development phase to an industrial organization.
A governance transition validated by the Board of Directors
Sofia Graflund's appointment as CEO was approved by the Board of Directors on April 7, 2026. She will take office after the Annual General Meeting on June 23, 2026.
Gustav Hasselskog, founder of Candela Technology AB, leaves operational management to take on the role of Executive Chairman. He retains a direct link with product strategy and external relations.
Candela has achieved several milestones in recent years. The yard has gone from a prototyping phase to series production of several models. The units are now used for passenger transport, notably with the Candela P-12 ferry. Over 65 orders have been received, mainly in Scandinavia. This change of scale involves structuring production lines, the supply chain and maintenance networks.
Hydrofoil technology for public transport
The boats developed by Candela are based on an electric foil architecture. This configuration reduces hydrodynamic drag once the boat is upright.
According to the manufacturer, energy consumption is reduced by up to 80% compared with conventional units. Wake reduction is also a key point for operation in port and urban areas.
In the context of public transport, these features facilitate integration into existing networks, particularly on regular routes in urban areas.
An industrial profile to manage ramp-up
Sofia Graflund arrives with a background focused on technology and industrial companies. She has held positions at EQT Ventures, Northvolt and Heart Aerospace.
Her role now is to structure Candela's growth, with a focus on production, marketing and international deployment. She emphasizes, " Candela has already demonstrated the viability of its technology in commercial operation and launched several generations of boats in production."
