MHI Vestas Plots Offshore Wind Expansion with New Top Team

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and Vestas Wind Systems have appointed Philippe Kavafyan to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Lars Bondo Krogsgaard to Co-Chief Executive Officer (Co-CEO) of MHI Vestas Offshore Wind.

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

Under the leadership of out-going CEO Jens Tommerup and Co-CEO Tetsushi Mizuno, MHI Vestas Offshore Wind has established itself as a leading player in offshore, with orders from the UK, Germany, Denmark, Belgium and the Netherlands, MHI and Vestas said.

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 now 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 and knowledge from and familiarity with diverse markets.

Philippe Kavafyan has more than 25 years of experience in the broader energy and technology industries and 12 years in the wind sector, including roles in business development, technical, asset and risk management in Electricité de France, GE and Areva. During the past six years in offshore wind energy, Kavafaryan has worked on offshore wind tenders in France, the first commercial projects in Germany and held the position as Chair of the Board of Adwen Offshore.

Lars Bondo Krogsgaard also has 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.

The appointment of a new CEO is in accordance with the terms of the original Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) between MHI and Vestas, which stipulates that after four years there shall be a change in the Joint Venture’s Board of Management and Board of Directors. The terms set out in the JVA mean that MHI now appoints the CEO and Vestas appoints the Co-CEO. Additionally, the terms now cede the leadership of the Board of Directors to Vestas.

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 1 April.

“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,” said Anders Runevad, incoming Chair of MHI Vestas Offshore Wind’s Board.

After four years leading MHI Vestas Offshore Wind, current CEO Jens Tommerup and Co-CEO Tetsushi Mizuno have decided to leave the organisation.

“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,” said outgoing Chair Michisuke Nayama.

“They leave behind a company that is a strong player in the offshore wind market, with a robust brand and a solid order book.”