Press Release:

Vestas strengthens its Executive Management with newly appointed EVP of People and Culture and appoints new interim EVP of Manufacturing & Global Procurement

News release from Vestas Wind Systems A/S
Aarhus, 5 December 2019

By the turn of the year, a new addition will be made to Vestas’ Executive Management team with the appointment of Kerstin Knapp as Executive Vice President of People & Culture, thereby emphasising the importance of the employees as the company’s strongest asset. At the same time, another change will take place in Executive Management, as Jean-Marc Lechêne has announced his retirement and Tommy Rahbek Nielsen will step in as interim EVP of Manufacturing & Global Procurement.

In a rapidly maturing and changing wind energy industry, Vestas has over the last five years convincingly managed to retain and expand its leading position. This was achieved through a passionate and talented team of employees across the company and with the company values simplicity, collaboration, accountability and passion as driving forces in pursuance of the vision to be Global Leader in Sustainable Energy Solutions. In acknowledgement of the importance of the people that make up the company and of the values and leaders that guide them, going forward, Vestas will add even more focus on value-based leadership.

On this backdrop, Vestas Executive Management will welcome a new addition to the team in the new year as Kerstin Knapp will join the company as EVP of People & Culture, reporting to Group President & CEO Henrik Andersen. The new EVP will replace Head of People & Culture Helle Bay, who has decided to pursue a career outside of Vestas. Kerstin has over 15 years of experience in HR, most recently in a position as Chief HR Officer in Puma Energy, a USD 12bn revenue company in the mid and downstream energy industry. Kerstin is an Austrian national and holds a master’s degree in Psychology, and a master’s in Business Administration and Management.

Furthermore, with Jean-Marc Lechêne’s retirement by the end of the year, Vestas has appointed Tommy Rahbek Nielsen as interim EVP of Manufacturing and Global Procurement. Tommy comes from a position as Senior Vice President of Assembly, Generators & Towers, and his many years in Vestas will secure an immediate progress on Vestas’ strategic execution in manufacturing and procurement. Tommy will be reporting to the Group President & CEO Henrik Andersen and be part of Vestas Executive Management throughout the interim period. An internal and external search for a permanent candidate has commenced.

Tommy Rahbek Nielsen will start in his new role on 1 January 2020 while Kerstin Knapp will start in her new role on 10 January 2020.


For more information, please contact:
Morten Dyrholm, Group SVP, Marketing, Communications and Public Affairs
Tel: +45 4112 2807
Mail: modyr@vestas.com 


About Vestas
Vestas is the energy industry’s global partner on sustainable energy solutions. We design, manufacture, install, and service wind turbines across the globe, and with 108 GW of wind turbines in 80 countries, we have installed more wind power than anyone else. Through our industry-leading smart data capabilities and unparalleled 91 GW of wind turbines under service, we use data to interpret, forecast, and exploit wind resources and deliver best-in-class wind power solutions. Together with our customers, Vestas’ more than 25,000 employees are bringing the world sustainable energy solutions to power a bright future.

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