As part of Vestas’ ambition to grow faster than a changing and increasingly competitive market, Vestas’ two separate sales business units (SBU) for Northern Europe and Central Europe will merge on 1 January 2018. By merging the two SBUs into one, to be called SBU North & Central Europe, Vestas will combine capabilities and expertise and position itself strongly to capture future growth opportunities in Europe’s mature markets.
The merger follows Vestas’ strategy to ensure an agile organisation that adapts to market and customer needs. The same rationale resulted in the establishment of SBU China and SBU Asia Pacific earlier this year. Among other things, reorganising the SBUs intends to create simpler and more agile SBUs with faster and clearer decision-making.
Nils de Baar, who has been leading SBU Central Europe since 2015, will take on the role as President of SBU Vestas North & Central Europe from its headquarters in Hamburg. The Malmö office will remain an important location in Vestas’ sales efforts going forward.
“With mature markets moving to auctions and competitive tenders, it is imperative that our business model reflects and supports our customers’ needs in being successful in the market. By merging the two SBUs, we combine experience and capabilities across markets with a simpler and more agile setup, which will ensure faster decision-making and help us sustain our leadership in mature markets,” says Juan Araluce, Executive Vice President and Chief Sales Officer. “Since joining Vestas, Nils de Baar has increased sales and strengthened project execution across Central European markets. He is the right person to lead the merger and position Vestas strongly going forward.”
“I am truly excited to be given this opportunity to lead SBU North & Central Europe. The new management team and I are fully committed to seize the future growth and development prospects,” says Nils de Baar, “With this change, Vestas will have the right structure in place to better capture growth and stand stronger in a tougher market.”
As part of the merger, the current President of Vestas Northern Europe, Klaus Steen Mortensen, who has been instrumental in Vestas Northern Europe’s continuous high order intake in the region, will be leaving Vestas by mutual agreement.
On Klaus’ departure, Juan Araluce, said: “I would like to thank Klaus for his leadership, dedication and hard work during his time with Vestas, which among other things includes the 1 GW order for Fosen Vind – one of Vestas’ largest orders to date. I wish him all the best in his future endeavours.”
Since 1 September 2015, Nils de Baar has led Vestas’ sales business unit for Central Europe from its headquarters in Hamburg.
Before joining Vestas, Nils worked for more than 19 years at Ericsson where he held various commercial leadership positions. His last position at Ericsson was Vice President and Head of Global Customer Accounts, based in Stockholm.
Born in 1962, Dutch National, Nils holds a Master’s Degree in Business Economics from the Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands, as well as several leadership degrees from European and American Universities.
He has in-depth commercial understanding of the European & African markets and strong competencies within customer relations. With his strong commercial background and extensive international leadership experience, Nils will continue to develop and strengthen Vestas’ competitive position North & Central Europe. He will assume his new role as President for the sales business unit Vestas North & Central Europe on 1 January 2018.
