Native Instruments Co-Founder & Former CEO Issues Statement Amid Ongoing Company Crisis

Native Instruments, home to Kontakt, Maschine, Traktor and the broader Komplete ecosystem, is at the centre of a significant industry moment as the company enters preliminary insolvency proceedings in Germany. 

This wave of uncertainty has prompted public reactions from leadership old and new. Most recently, the company’s former CEO and co-founder, Daniel Haver issued a heartfelt statement on LinkedIn, addressing employees, users, and the global creator community about the present situation and the brand’s future.

Below is the full text of that statement, presented exactly as written, followed by context on why it matters.

Former CEO’s Statement (Unedited)

My thoughts first and foremost are with NI’s employees. Many of you have spent years working with incredible passion, creativity, and perseverance on something that truly matters to musicians all around the world.

At the same time, I am thinking of the millions of users worldwide for whom Native Instruments is far more than just a software or hardware manufacturer. For many, NI has been — and continues to be — a constant companion and a creator of iconic producer and DJ tools that fuel inspiration and creativity in music. I sincerely hope that this trust and connection will endure through this difficult period.

As a co-founder and long-time CEO, I had the privilege of building and leading the company from 1997 to 2020. At the end of 2020, I handed over operational responsibility and stepped back from day-to-day management. At that time, following a necessary and at times painful restructuring, the company was experiencing strong growth momentum with record revenues and results. In the years since, I have followed NI’s development only from a distance, as an observer. That makes the current developments all the more surprising to me as well.

Despite everything, I remain convinced that NI’s true substance lies not only in its balance sheets, but in its technology, its remarkably broad product portfolio, and its flagship products such as Traktor, Kontakt, Reaktor, and Maschine — as well as in its unique brand. Above all, it lies in the people and the community behind it. Insolvency proceedings do not necessarily mean the end; they can also represent an opportunity for realignment and renewed strength.

I wish everyone involved strength, clarity, and sound judgment for the steps ahead. And I sincerely hope that Native Instruments will find a way to emerge from this phase stronger — for the sake of its employees, its users, and the idea with which it all began.

What’s Happening at Native Instruments

Late January 2026 saw preliminary insolvency proceedings initiated for Native Instruments GmbH, the company’s German operating entity. Under German law, this pre-insolvency status is a court-supervised restructuring phase, intended to protect assets while the business assesses whether it can reorganise, refinance, or be sold. 

The news has reverberated through the music tech world. Multiple outlets report on the legal filings and the appointment of a court administrator to oversee the process. 

Importantly, from the company’s current leadership, CEO Nick Williams has stated that “business continues as usual”, emphasising that hardware and software products remain available, support continues, and development teams remain active. 

Why the Industry Is Watching

Native Instruments isn’t just another music tech maker, it’s been a pillar of electronic music creation for decades. The company’s products have helped define workflows for producers and DJs worldwide. 

A number of factors have shaped recent years, including ownership changes (such as the 2021 majority acquisition by Francisco Partners), brand consolidation back from Soundwide to Native Instruments, and workforce adjustments as market conditions shifted.  What happens next will affect millions of music producers, kontakt developers worldwide.

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