Kristian Jenkins Reflecting on His First 100 Days as Casambi’s New CEO

Observations from the First 100 Days

One thing is immediately clear: the power of the Casambi ecosystem continues to grow. Innovation flows consistently from hundreds of manufacturing partners, with new developments, such as SAL-SENSOR firmware, the Matter Bridge, and heatmapping sensors, expanding what is possible within the platform.

At the same time, a fundamental shift is becoming increasingly visible: the transition from a hardware-driven mindset to a software-led model. The lighting and construction industries have historically been built around hardware. A software platform, however, demands a different level of operational discipline. Yet the core structure of the industry remains unchanged: there is always a lighting supplier, an electrician, and an end customer. Success depends on navigating this traditional value chain while introducing a more scalable, software-centric approach.

Regional diversity adds another layer of complexity. In Europe, a strong retrofit market benefits from favorable regulatory trends. North America operates through established channel structures, with DALI and LLLC adoption still limited but steadily growing. APAC, by contrast, is highly fragmented, with each market shaped by its own culture, language, and regulatory environment. Operating globally requires understanding and adapting to each of these dynamics.

Another key observation is the ongoing supply-versus-demand challenge. While the technology is widely available, market adoption depends on partner capabilities and their ability to actively generate demand. Growth is not only about delivering solutions but also about enabling the ecosystem to bring them to life.

Industry Shifts

Insights from Light + Building 2026 reinforce several important industry trends.

Lighting is becoming increasingly software-defined, with embedded intelligence enabling systems to respond dynamically to changing environments. Wireless technology has reached a new level of maturity, with growing trust in radio-based systems at scale, driven in Europe by retrofit requirements and in China by rapid innovation in connectivity.

At the same time, requirements are becoming more versatile. Lighting applications now span a wide range of use cases, from energy efficiency in schools to ambience in hospitality and immersive experiences in retail. Meeting these demands often requires combining multiple technologies into a single, cohesive solution.

Moving Forward: From Growth to Repeatable Scale

Casambi has always been defined by innovation and an entrepreneurial mindset. That foundation remains unchanged. What is evolving is the structure around it.

“We preserve innovation, but we add structure,” says Kristian Jenkins.

The company is transitioning from visionary growth to repeatable scale. This means introducing clear accountability, measurable performance targets, and stronger operational discipline. It also involves reinforcing alignment across regions, investing further in partner capabilities, and sharing knowledge more effectively on a global level.

Innovation is not limited to products; it extends to the business model itself. Casambi operates at the intersection of multiple stakeholders across the value chain, each representing an opportunity to both create and capture value.

Improvements in partner enablement can act as exponential drivers of growth. The business is deeply interconnected, and leveraging those connections creates meaningful, scalable impact.

For clients and partners, this shift brings greater predictability. Growth is no longer driven solely by opportunity, but by systems designed to deliver consistent results.

First Initiative: Three Regions, One Company

As of 1 February 2026, Casambi implemented a new organizational structure across three regions: EMEA, APAC, and North America. Each region now operates with defined leadership, clear accountability, and ownership. 

“Global ambition without regional ownership creates noise. Regional ownership with global cohesion creates momentum,” Jenkins explains.

Markets, regulations, and customer expectations vary significantly. Attempting to manage all of this centrally would overlook critical local nuances.

“If you standardise everything from headquarters, you miss the regional variance that enables success,” Jenkins adds. “Strong decision-making provides a framework, but allows regions to navigate their own complexity. That’s where we gain the most.”

This balance between central structure and local flexibility is essential to building sustainable global growth.

CO-CEO Model - Double Leadership, Single Strategy

Timo Pakkala continues to lead technology vision, platform architecture, and the product roadmap, safeguarding the long-term integrity of the Casambi platform.

Kristian Jenkins leads global commercial strategy, regional profit and loss accountability across EMEA, APAC, and North America, partner programs, and financial performance.

Between them sits the strategy box, the space where technology vision and commercial execution come together. Here, major initiatives are debated, priorities aligned, and decisions made. Casambi’s structure reflects its reality: a software platform company operating within a global, hardware-driven lighting ecosystem, requiring both deep technical leadership and disciplined commercial execution.

“Clarity is essential,” Jenkins says. “When responsibilities are clearly defined and strategy is centralized, decisions are faster and alignment is stronger.”

EPBD in Europe: A Structural Opportunity

Regulations like Europe’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) are accelerating the demand for measurable energy efficiency. Lighting control plays a key role in meeting these requirements.

“EPBD reinforces a long-term shift toward lifecycle value,” Jenkins explains. “Buildings are no longer evaluated solely on installation cost, but on long-term performance.”

Casambi’s software-driven platform is designed to enhance building intelligence, optimize energy use, and allow flexible upgrades over time.

More Than Wireless: Easy, Innovative, Open

Casambi is often described only as a wireless lighting controls company. Jenkins sees it differently:

“Wireless is just the transport layer,” he says. “What matters is whether the architecture can meet the needs of constantly evolving and diverse spaces.”

Casambi’s LightingOS is user interface–driven, offering wireless, wired, and hybrid solutions. Its open ecosystem allows multiple manufacturers and protocols to work seamlessly together, providing choice, flexibility, and faster innovation. By connecting hardware, software, and partners under a single interface, Casambi delivers intuitive, scalable, and adaptable lighting experiences.

The platform differentiates itself through innovation speed, ecosystem depth, and hybrid integration, all without compromising openness.

Competition and Confidence

The lighting market is growing exponentially, driven by LED adoption, sustainability goals, and rising regulations. “We’re not just talking about the traditional controls market anymore,” Jenkins explains. “Casambi’s addressable market includes the full on/off lighting space, which is roughly ten times larger than the DALI, 0–10 V, or phase-cut segment alone.”

Growing markets naturally attract new entrants - whether from established hardware businesses or ventures aiming to capitalize on the maturity of wireless solutions. In this industry, what remains constant is the evolving nature of software, which demands a careful balance of innovation, reliability, and ever-increasing user experience requirements. This is where Casambi excels.

Casambi’s advantage lies in its software platform and open ecosystem. The value isn’t just in technology, but in how it connects manufacturers, partners, and end users, creating a scalable, flexible model that benefits everyone in the network.

For Kristian Jenkins, success isn’t just numbers on a spreadsheet, it’s seeing the platform gain traction and the ecosystem thrive. Indicators of progress include increased market adoption both globally and regionally, continued growth in ecosystem partners and new products, and greater investments in channel partners to strengthen collaboration. Advancements in digital infrastructure also play a key role, supporting scalable and flexible deployments. 

By year-end, Kristian will measure success by the platform’s broader adoption, a growing and engaged ecosystem, and tangible improvements in partner enablement and digital capabilities, demonstrating intentional, sustainable growth that benefits both partners and clients.

A Leader Shaped by Curiosity and Global Experience

Born to a British father and Finnish mother, Jenkins has lived in the UK, Finland, Singapore, with extended stays in India, Spain and the U.S. This international upbringing exposed him to different languages and cultures, forcing him out of his comfort zone and shaping his natural curiosity. That curiosity has become a key strength as a leader, helping him understand diverse perspectives, connect dots across regions and navigate complex markets. He also holds an Executive MBA, complementing his practical leadership with formal business training.

Jenkins brings this global perspective and analytical mindset to Casambi. He approaches leadership with both curiosity and pragmatism: understanding the details, connecting the big picture, and turning insights into actionable strategy. Outside of work, he stays active through tennis and gym exercise that keep him energized and balanced.

© 2026 Luger Research e.U. – Institute for Innovation & Technology