Tommerup departs MHI Vestas as new CEO and co-CEO appointed

Chief executive Jens Tommerup and co-chief executive Tetsushi Mizuno are leaving MHI Vestas Offshore Wind as the joint venture shareholders refocus the company.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and Vestas Wind Systems (Vestas) have confirmed that Philippe Kavafyan will be the company’s new CEO and Lars Bondo Krogsgaard will be co-chief executive officer.

The appointments will take effect on 1 April 2018 in accordance with the joint venture agreement’s principle of changing its leadership every four years. 

Under the leadership of Tommerup and Mizuno, MHI Vestas Offshore Wind has established itself as a leading player offshore, with orders from the UK, Germany, Denmark, Belgium and the Netherlands. 

MHI Vestas said that, with the outlook for offshore wind energy looking positive through the opening of new markets and further reductions in the cost of energy, MHI Vestas Offshore is increasing its strategic focus on expanding into new markets and further consolidating its position in core markets.

Accordingly, the joint venture shareholders sought new leaders from outside the parent companies, with extensive experience of the wind market.

Mr Kavafyan has more than 25 years of experience in the energy and technology industries and 12 years in the wind sector, including roles in business development, technical, asset and risk management at Electricité de France, GE and Areva. In the last six years he has worked with offshore wind tenders in France, the first commercial projects in Germany and held the position of chair of the board of Adwen Offshore.

Mr Krogsgaard also has extensive experience in the wind energy industry with Ørsted and Siemens Wind Power. In 2010, he joined Nordex as chief sales officer and was promoted to CEO, growing the company profitably while expanding its global reach.