EWEA appoints new CEO

The European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) has appointed Thomas Becker as its new Chief Executive Officer.

A former Danish civil servant, Thomas Becker has since 2010 been CEO of Genan – a company that recycles used tyres on a very large scale globally (and has a turnover of 100 million Euros per year). Prior to that, he was Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Danish Ministry of Climate and Energy. He has also worked for the Danish Ministry of the Environment and for the Danish Environment Protection Agency. He joins EWEA with a long standing experience in international negotiations in the EU, UN, OECD and the IEA, and has a Master’s degree in law.

New EWEA CEO Thomas Becker (centre) meets EWEA staff flanked by EWEA Vice President Klaus Rave (right) and current CEO Christian Kjaer (left).

“I am looking forward to working for EWEA, an organisation with an outstanding reputation” said Thomas Becker. “I want to turn the crisis facing the wind industry today into an opportunity to show how wind energy could contribute to jobs, exports and green growth. The wind industry is here to stay. It is now a mainstream industry and a major employer, and as its leading voice EWEA has to be heard even more clearly in these difficult times. I see a strong post 2020 European renewable energy policy as the key to investor security and thereby the industry’s future.”

“EWEA has recruited the best possible replacement for Christian Kjaer” said EWEA President Arthouros Zervos. “Thomas Becker has long experience of high-level international energy and climate politics and policies as well as experience in the private sector. We are sorry to lose Christian Kjaer but delighted to have recruited Thomas Becker. EWEA will remain in very capable hands.”

Thomas Becker will start at EWEA on 1 April 2013.