T. Aelens, a renewable energy professional, will be the new head of Ignitis renewables

Ignitis renewables, an international green energy company, will be led by Thierry Aelens, an executive with experience in global leading renewable energy companies. 

The new Chief Executive Officer for a five-year term was approved on Tuesday. He will take office on March 7.  

“Ignitis Group has set ambitious goals to develop its Green Generation segment. We are planning to reach 4 GW of total installed renewables capacity by 2030, including an offshore wind projects. To achieve such ambitions, professionals with international experience are needed, so I am excited that Thierry joined the team. I am certain that the competence, experience and vast knowledge of the new Ignitis renewables CEO will help transitioning the Group towards green energy”, said Darius Maikštėnas, Group CEO and Management Board Chair.   

“I am most honoured of the confidence put in me by the Ignitis group Board and supervisory Board. The Big ambitions of transition towards renewables and society decarbonization of the company, the country and the region were decisive factors for me to accept this challenge. I participated already earlier in my career to such corporate and energy policy turnarounds and with the support of the whole team, the management Board and the shareholders, I am looking forward to do it again. The five coming years are going to be extremely exciting and will contribute significantly to the future shaping of the Ignitis Group”, said T. Aelens. 

The new Ignitis renewables CEO has a unique experience in offshore wind projects and has directly contributed to the implementation of renewable energy projects with a total capacity of 5,000 MW. He is also an experienced top executive with skills in Business developement, large project implementation, engineering and offshore wind farm construction.   

Thierry Aelens has led offshore wind project construction and operations in one of the largest energy companies in the world – RWE Innogy (today RWE renewables). He was also a Senior Vice President at STX France, one of the leading offshore wind substation manufacturers, where, during his tenure, supply contracts were concluded with energy giants such as Orsted, EDF, EON, Rentel. Thierry Aelens also assumed executive positions in renewable energy company Elicio and accumulated experience in other international companies throughout the world.   

Thierry Aelens is substituting the current acting CEO Laurynas Jocys, who will continue serving as Ignitis renewables CFO.   

The selection of Ignitis renewables Chief Executive Officer was announced on 26 August 2021 (link).  

In order to attract candidates with high international qualifications, who have large experience in renewable energy and offshore wind projects development, an international renewable energy talent recruitment agency LSP Renewables was used in the selection process.  

79 candidates participated in the selection of Ignitis renewables Chief Executive Officer in total.