The Malmö-based sustainability software and advisory firm Position Green has officially announced a significant transition in its top leadership, naming current Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer Julia Staunig as the company’s next Chief Executive Officer. The appointment, which was confirmed on August 21, 2026, is set to take effect on October 1, marking a new chapter for the organization as it navigates an increasingly complex global regulatory landscape for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting.
Staunig will take the helm from Daniel Gadd, the company’s co-founder who has served as CEO since Position Green’s inception in 2015. Under the transition plan, Gadd will not exit the company immediately; instead, he will move into a strategic role as Senior Advisor. In this capacity, he is expected to focus heavily on the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), product development, and overall technology strategy through the end of 2026. Following this advisory period, Gadd is slated to join the company’s Board of Directors at the start of 2027, ensuring a continuity of vision while allowing for new operational leadership.
A Decade of Growth and the Transition to Professional Management
The leadership change comes at a milestone moment for Position Green, which has spent the last decade evolving from a Nordic startup into a significant player in the international ESG software market. Daniel Gadd’s tenure has been defined by the rapid scaling of the platform during a period when ESG shifted from a niche corporate social responsibility (CSR) concern to a core financial and regulatory requirement.
"Building and leading Position Green over the past ten years has been an extraordinary journey," Gadd stated during the announcement. He emphasized that the decision to step down as CEO was part of a broader strategy to position the company for "its next phase of profitable growth." Gadd’s endorsement of Staunig highlights her role in the company’s recent internal transformation, noting her "vision and operational excellence" as the primary drivers for her selection.
The transition reflects a broader trend in the climate-tech and ESG sectors, where founder-led companies often transition to executives with deep backgrounds in global finance and regulation as they reach a certain level of maturity. Staunig’s appointment suggests that Position Green is prioritizing rigorous operational standards and a sophisticated understanding of international policy as it seeks to expand its footprint.
Profile of the Incoming CEO: Julia Staunig
Julia Staunig’s ascent to the CEO position has been rapid, following her arrival at the company in 2023. She originally joined Position Green as the Managing Director of its Brussels office—a strategic location given the European Union’s role as the primary architect of modern ESG regulations. Her success in Brussels led to her promotion to the dual role of Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), where she was tasked with streamlining the company’s internal processes and overseeing its financial health.
Prior to joining Position Green, Staunig built a formidable career at the intersection of finance, policy, and advisory services. She served as a Senior Managing Director at Teneo, the global CEO advisory firm, where she led the sustainability, ESG, and financial services regulation practice. This experience provided her with a high-level view of how Fortune 500 companies and global investors approach sustainability risks.
Her professional background also includes significant stints at major financial institutions, including Danske Bank and State Street. Perhaps most importantly for a company operating in the European market, Staunig began her career within the European Parliament and the European Commission. This foundational experience in the halls of EU power gives her a unique advantage in interpreting and anticipating the regulatory shifts—such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD)—that drive demand for Position Green’s services.
In her statement regarding the appointment, Staunig noted the "pivotal moment" the industry is currently facing. "Our focus remains on delivering high-impact sustainability solutions to our clients, strengthening our profitable growth foundation, and empowering our leadership team," she said.
The Evolution of Position Green and the ESG Market
Founded in 2015, Position Green emerged just as the Paris Agreement was being signed, a time when many organizations were struggling to find consistent ways to track their carbon footprints. Headquartered in Malmö, Sweden, the company capitalized on the Nordic region’s early adoption of sustainability standards.
Position Green’s business model is a hybrid of software-as-a-service (SaaS) and professional advisory services. This "software-plus-human" approach has become a competitive necessity in the ESG space. While automated data collection is essential for managing the vast amounts of information required by modern standards, the subjective and often qualitative nature of ESG reporting requires expert guidance to ensure compliance and strategic alignment.
The company’s platform currently assists organizations in measuring, managing, and reporting performance across a wide spectrum of metrics, including Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, labor practices, supply chain ethics, and board diversity. By 2026, the company has grown to serve a diverse client base ranging from private equity firms to multi-national manufacturing corporations.
Market Context: The Regulatory Supercycle
The leadership transition at Position Green occurs against the backdrop of what analysts have termed the "ESG regulatory supercycle." In 2026, the global landscape for corporate disclosure has been fundamentally transformed compared to when the company was founded.
The European Union’s CSRD is now in full swing, requiring approximately 50,000 companies to provide detailed, audited reports on their environmental and social impacts. Simultaneously, the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) has successfully harmonized many of the world’s disparate reporting frameworks, creating a more unified—but technically demanding—global standard.
For companies like Position Green, this regulatory environment represents both an opportunity and a challenge. The demand for robust, audit-ready data has never been higher, but the technical requirements for software providers have also increased. Systems must now handle complex data "double materiality" assessments and provide a clear audit trail that can withstand the scrutiny of third-party assurance providers. Staunig’s background in Brussels and financial regulation is seen as a strategic asset in navigating these requirements.
Strategic Pivot: The Role of AI and Tech Strategy
A notable aspect of the announcement is Daniel Gadd’s shift to a role specifically focused on AI and product strategy. This move signals Position Green’s intent to stay ahead of the technological curve in an industry that is increasingly being disrupted by automation.
In 2026, AI is no longer just a buzzword in ESG; it is a critical tool for data extraction and predictive modeling. Companies are using machine learning to:
- Automate Data Ingestion: Extracting energy usage and supply chain data from disparate invoices and ERP systems without manual entry.
- Predictive Analytics: Forecasting future carbon liabilities based on current operational trends and changing carbon prices.
- Gap Analysis: Using natural language processing (NLP) to compare a company’s disclosures against the latest regulatory requirements to identify missing information.
By dedicating the co-founder’s time to these areas, Position Green is signaling that while Staunig will handle the "profitable growth" and operational scaling, the company’s "technological soul" will remain a top priority. This dual focus aims to ensure that the platform does not become a legacy system in a rapidly advancing market.
Financial Implications and Future Outlook
While Position Green is a private entity and does not disclose full financial statements, industry analysts suggest that the ESG software market has maintained a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of nearly 20% over the last several years. The move to appoint a CEO with a CFO background suggests a shift toward fiscal discipline and perhaps a preparation for future capital events, such as a major funding round, an acquisition spree, or even an eventual public listing.
The appointment of Staunig is likely to be viewed favorably by investors who value operational stability and regulatory expertise. As companies move past the initial "implementation phase" of ESG reporting and into a "maintenance and optimization phase," the software providers that can offer the most efficient, cost-effective, and compliant solutions will likely dominate the market.
Summary of the Transition Timeline
To ensure a smooth handover, the company has outlined a clear chronological path for the leadership transition:
- August 21, 2026: Official announcement of Julia Staunig as the incoming CEO.
- October 1, 2026: Staunig officially assumes the CEO role; Daniel Gadd transitions to Senior Advisor.
- October – December 2026: Gadd leads the finalization of the 2027 AI and Tech roadmap.
- January 2027: Gadd joins the Board of Directors, providing long-term governance and strategic oversight.
As Position Green moves toward the final quarter of 2026, the focus will remain on the seamless integration of this new leadership structure. With Staunig at the helm, the company appears ready to double down on its mission to bridge the gap between complex regulatory demands and actionable corporate sustainability data. The transition marks the end of the founding era and the beginning of a more mature, operationally focused chapter for one of the Nordic region’s most prominent sustainability tech firms.
