Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and Vestas Wind Systems (Vestas) have named Philippe Kavafyan as CEO and Lars Bondo Krogsgaard as co-CEO of MHI Vestas Offshore Wind.
The appointments, taking effect on April 1, were made in accordance with the joint venture’s agreement to change its leadership every four years. Jens Tommerup and Tetsushi Mizuno currently serve as CEO and co-CEO, respectively, and are leaving the organization.
MHI Vestas Offshore says it is increasing its strategic focus on expanding into new markets and further consolidating its position in core markets. Accordingly, as joint venture shareholders, MHI and Vestas sought new leaders, outside of either parent company, with extensive wind experience.
According to the company, Kavafyan has more than 25 years of experience in the broader energy and technology industries and 12 years in the wind sector, including roles at Electricité de France, GE and Areva. During the past six years in offshore wind energy, he has worked with offshore wind tenders in France and the first commercial projects in Germany. He also held the position as chair of the board of Adwen Offshore.
Krogsgaard also has extensive wind management experience with DONG Energy (now Ørsted) and Siemens Wind Power. In 2010, he joined Nordex as chief sales officer and was promoted to CEO.
Additionally, under the terms of the joint venture agreement between MHI and Vestas, a new board of directors has been named.
Vestas has appointed its president and CEO, Anders Runevad, as chair of the board, while MHI has appointed its executive vice president and chief technology officer and current chair of MHI Vestas Offshore, Michisuke Nayama, as the deputy chair of the board (as of April 1).
“Both Philippe Kavafyan and Lars Bondo Krogsgaard possess deep knowledge of the industry and major markets, and MHI and Vestas strongly believe that their combined expertise and leadership within the wind industry is precisely what the joint venture requires to be successful in the future,” comments Runevad.
Nayama adds, “On behalf of the shareholders, MHI and Vestas would like to thank both Jens Tommerup and Tetsushi Mizuno for their hard work and dedication in starting up MHI Vestas Offshore Wind and introducing a new turbine that earned the market’s confidence.”
