J-Star Holding Names Sam Van as Chief Executive Officer
J-Star Holding (Nasdaq: YMAT), a leading carbon fiber and composite solutions provider, has appointed Sam Van as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective October 1, 2025. Van succeeds Jonathan Chiang, who will continue as Chairman of the Board. The leadership transition comes at a strategic time following the company's recent IPO.
Van brings extensive capital markets expertise, having helped over 70 companies complete IPOs on NYSE and Nasdaq. He previously served as CEO of SRO Partners and held senior positions at Freedom U.S. Markets, NYSE, and FINRA. The company is currently expanding its operations with a new manufacturing facility in Taiwan and planning expansion into the United States with a production line, R&D center, and office.
J-Star Holding (Nasdaq: YMAT), fornitore leader di soluzioni in fibra di carbonio e compositi, ha nominato Sam Van come nuovo Chief Executive Officer, con decorrenza dal 1 ottobre 2025. Van succede a Jonathan Chiang, che continuerà come Presidente della Board. Il cambio al vertice avviene in un momento strategico, a seguito dell’ultima IPO della società.
Van vanta una vasta esperienza nei mercati dei capitali, avendo contribuito all’esecuzione di oltre 70 IPO su NYSE e Nasdaq. In passato è stato CEO di SRO Partners e ha ricoperto posizioni dirigenziali in Freedom U.S. Markets, NYSE e FINRA. L’azienda sta attualmente espandendo le sue attività con un nuovo stabilimento di produzione a Taiwan e pianifica l’espansione negli Stati Uniti con una linea produttiva, un centro R&D e un ufficio.
J-Star Holding (Nasdaq: YMAT), proveedor líder de soluciones de fibra de carbono y compuestos, ha nombrado a Sam Van como su nuevo Chief Executive Officer, con efecto a partir del 1 de octubre de 2025. Van sucede a Jonathan Chiang, quien continuará como Presidente de la Junta. La transición de liderazgo llega en un momento estratégico tras la reciente OPI de la empresa.
Van aporta una amplia experiencia en mercados de capitales, habiendo ayudado a que más de 70 compañías completen OPI en NYSE y Nasdaq. Anteriormente se desempeñó como CEO de SRO Partners y ocupó cargos de alta dirección en Freedom U.S. Markets, NYSE y FINRA. La empresa está ampliando sus operaciones con una nueva instalación de fabricación en Taiwán y planifica expandirse a Estados Unidos con una línea de producción, un centro de I+D y una oficina.
J-Star Holding (나스닥: YMAT)은(는) 탄소섬유 및 복합재 솔루션 분야의 선도 기업으로, 새 최고경영자(CEO)로 Sam Van을 임명했습니다. 임기는 2025년 10월 1일부터입니다. Van은 이사회 의장인 Jonathan Chiang의 후임으로 취임하며, Chiang은 계속해서 이사회 의장을 맡습니다. 이번 리더십 교체는 회사의 최근 IPO 이후 전략적 시점에 이뤄졌습니다.
Van은 NYSE와 Nasdaq에서 70개 넘는 기업의 IPO를 돕는 등 자본시장 분야의 풍부한 경험을 보유하고 있습니다. 그는 과거 SRO Partners의 CEO를 역임했고 Freedom U.S. Markets, NYSE, FINRA에서 고위직을 맡았습니다. 회사는 현재 대만 신생 제조시설을 확장 중이며, 미국으로의 생산 라인, 연구개발(R&D) 센터, 사무실을 갖춘 확장을 계획하고 있습니다.
J-Star Holding (Nasdaq : YMAT), fournisseur de premier plan de solutions en fibres de carbone et composites, a nommé Sam Van comme nouveau directeur général, à compter du 1er octobre 2025. Van succède à Jonathan Chiang, qui restera président du conseil d’administration. Cette transition de leadership intervient à un moment stratégique après l’introduction en bourse récente de la société.
Van apporte une vaste expérience des marchés financiers, ayant aidé plus de 70 entreprises à réaliser des IPO sur le NYSE et le Nasdaq. Il a occupé le poste de PDG chez SRO Partners et a occupé des fonctions de direction chez Freedom U.S. Markets, NYSE et FINRA. L’entreprise élargit actuellement ses activités avec une nouvelle usine de fabrication à Taïwan et prévoit une expansion aux États-Unis avec une ligne de production, un centre de recherche et développement et un bureau.
J-Star Holding (Nasdaq: YMAT), ein führender Anbieter von Kohlefaser- und Verbundwerkstofflösungen, hat Sam Van zu seinem neuen Chief Executive Officer ernannt, mit Wirkung zum 1. Oktober 2025. Van folgt auf Jonathan Chiang, der weiterhin Vorsitzender des Vorstands bleiben wird. Der Führungswechsel erfolgt zu einem strategisch günstigen Zeitpunkt nach dem jüngsten Börsengang des Unternehmens.
Van bringt umfassende Kapitalmarktexpertise mit und hat bei der Unterstützung von über 70 Unternehmen bei IPOs an NYSE und Nasdaq geholfen. Er war zuvor CEO von SRO Partners und bekleidete leitende Positionen bei Freedom U.S. Markets, NYSE und FINRA. Das Unternehmen erweitert derzeit seine Aktivitäten mit einer neuen Fertigungsanlage in Taiwan und plant eine Expansion in die Vereinigten Staaten mit einer Produktionslinie, einem F&E-Zentrum und einem Büro.
J-Star Holding (ناسداك: YMAT)، مزود رائد للحلول المصنوعة من ألياف الكربون والمواد المركبة، قد عيّنت سام فان كمدير تنفيذي جديد، اعتباراً من 1 أكتوبر 2025. يحل فان محل جوناثان تشيانغ، الذي سيواصل العمل كرئيس مجلس الإدارة. تأتي هذه الانتقال القيادي في وقت استراتيجي عقب الطرح العام الأولي الأخير للشركة.
يجلب فان معه خبرة واسعة في أسواق رأس المال، حيث ساهم في أن أكثر من 70 شركة تكمل عمليات الطرح العام الأولي على NYSE و Nasdaq. شغل سابقاً منصب الرئيس التنفيذي لشركة SRO Partners وتولى مناصب عليا في Freedom U.S. Markets وNYSE وFINRA. تقوم الشركة حالياً بتوسيع عملياتها مع منشأة تصنيع جديدة في تايوان وتخطط للتوسع في الولايات المتحدة بوجود خط إنتاج، ومركز بحث وتطوير، ومكتب.
J-Star Holding (纳斯达克：YMAT)，领先的碳纤维与复合材料解决方案提供商，已任命Sam Van为新任首席执行官（CEO），自2025年10月1日起生效。Van接替Jonathan Chiang，后者将继续担任董事会主席。此次领导层交接发生在公司最近首次公开募股（IPO）后的战略时机。
Van在资本市场方面拥有丰富经验，曾帮助超过70家公司在NYSE和Nasdaq完成IPO。他曾担任SRO Partners的CEO，并在Freedom U.S. Markets、NYSE和FINRA担任高级职位。公司目前正扩展，其在台湾的新制造设施正在建设中，并计划向美国扩张，设立生产线、研发中心和办公室。
- Appointment of experienced CEO with strong capital markets background
- Strategic expansion plans including new U.S. production facility and R&D center
- Former CEO remains as Chairman to ensure leadership continuity
- Plans to launch own brands of sporting goods and electric bicycles
- Significant leadership change shortly after IPO could create transitional challenges
- New CEO lacks direct manufacturing or carbon fiber industry experience
Insights
CEO change at J-Star comes at critical expansion phase following IPO; impact depends on new leader's execution abilities.
J-Star Holding's appointment of Sam Van as CEO represents a significant leadership transition at a crucial juncture for the company. The timing is particularly noteworthy as J-Star is in the post-IPO phase with several ambitious initiatives underway: optimizing a new manufacturing facility in Taiwan, planning US expansion with production and R&D capabilities, and launching proprietary sporting goods and e-bicycle brands.
Van's background is heavily weighted toward capital markets rather than manufacturing or composites expertise. His experience includes helping over 70 companies complete IPOs and listings on major exchanges, CEO experience at investment firm SRO Partners, and senior roles at Freedom U.S. Markets, NYSE, and FINRA. He currently maintains board positions at Picard Medical Holdings and Reed's Inc.
This leadership change suggests a strategic pivot toward financial growth and potential M&A activity rather than technical innovation. The company explicitly states plans to "accelerate growth both organically and through strategic M&A opportunities" under Van's leadership. This indicates a potential shift from founder-led technical development to financially-driven expansion strategies.
The outgoing CEO Jonathan Chiang, who founded the company, will remain as Chairman focusing on "market innovation and key customers" - suggesting an attempt to maintain continuity in product development and customer relationships while bringing in new expertise for financial growth. This structured transition, rather than a complete departure, typically reduces transition risks.
For a materials science company like J-Star, this leadership change introduces both opportunities and risks - Van brings capital markets expertise that could fuel expansion, but his background shows limited direct experience in carbon fiber manufacturing or materials science industries.
TAICHUNG CITY, Taiwan, Sept. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- J-Star Holding Co., Ltd. (Nasdaq: YMAT) (“J-Star” or the “Company”), a leading provider of innovative carbon fiber and composite solutions across a wide range of applications including personal sports equipment, healthcare products, automobile parts, resin systems, and research and development services, today announced that Sam Van has been named Chief Executive Officer of J-Star, effective October 1. Mr. Van succeeds Jonathan Chiang, who will continue to serve as Chairman of the Board with a focus on driving continued market innovation and key customers.
Mr. Van joins at a pivotal moment for J-Star. Following the Company’s recent initial public offering, the company is optimizing its newly built state-of-the art manufacturing facility in Taiwan, is preparing to expand into the United States with a new production line, R&D center and sales and administrative office, and is launching its own brands of sporting goods and electric bicycles. Under Mr. Van's leadership, J-Star plans to accelerate its growth both organically and through strategic M&A opportunities.
Mr. Van brings extensive leadership and capital markets expertise, with a career dedicated to helping scale global businesses. During his distinguished career, he has assisted more than 70 companies to complete IPOs and list on the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq. He most recently served as the CEO of SRO Partners, an investment firm focused on high growth companies, and previously held senior positions including SVP and Head of Advisory Services for Freedom U.S. Markets, Director of Business Development for the New York Stock Exchange as well as working at FINRA. He currently serves on the boards of Picard Medical Holdings (NYSE: PMI) and Reed’s, Inc (OTCQX: REED).
“Sam is the right leader to guide J-Star into its next chapter as a public company,” said Jonathan Chiang, Chairman of the Board of J-Star. “He is a respected executive with deep experience in global capital markets and a proven ability to help companies achieve scale and unlock growth. Sam understands our culture, values and vision, and I am confident his leadership will enable J-Star to seize new opportunities and deliver meaningful value for our shareholders. Having led the company since inception, I now look forward to supporting J-Star’s continued success in my role as Chairman.”
“As an avid tennis player who has personally used racquets made with J-Star carbon fiber, I am honored to step into the role of CEO,” said Sam Van. “J-Star is an innovative company built on engineering and design excellence and whose products have powered numerous world and Olympic champions. This is a transformative time for the company, and I am excited to partner with Jonathan and our talented team to accelerate growth, strengthen our global footprint, and create long-term value.”
About J-Star Holding Co., Ltd.
J-Star (NASDAQ: YMAT) is a holding company with operations conducted through subsidiaries in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Samoa with its headquarters in Taiwan. J-Star’s predecessor group was established in 1970, and has accumulated over 50 years of know-how in material composites industry. J-Star develops and commercializes the technology on carbon reinforcement and resin systems. With decades of experience and knowledge in composites and materials, J-Star is able to apply its expertise and technology to design and manufacture a great variety of lightweight, high-performance carbon composite products, ranging from key structural parts of electric bicycles and sports bicycles, rackets, automobile parts to healthcare products. Visit j-starholding.com and ymaunivers.com to learn more.
Forward Looking-Statements
Certain statements contained in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the expected trading commencement and closing dates. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: the uncertainties related to market conditions and other factors discussed in the “Risactors” section of the final prospectus filed with the SEC. For these reasons, among others, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements in this press release. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and J-Star specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
Contact:
Matt Chesler, CFA
FNK IR
646-809-2183
investor@j-starholding.com
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