Expanding renewable energies domestically and abroad is an important pillar of the Axpo strategy. After ten years of development, Axpo is integrating the wind and solar business into two in-house divisions to support the ambition of continuing to make a substantial contribution to the expansion of climate-friendly power production.
Katja Stommel, CEO of the Axpo subsidiary Volkswind, will become the Head of the new Wind division. Antoine Millioud will take over as the Head of the Solar division. He has also been appointed the CEO of Axpo's subsidiary Urbasolar.
Climate-friendly power production
As the largest producer of renewable energies in Switzerland, Axpo recognized the need for renewable energy early on. In addition to continuous investments in hydropower, the wind and solar energy business were systematically developed under the direction of Christoph Sutter, Head of Renewables at Axpo.
The strategic acquisition of the wind developer Volkswind in the year 2015 and the solar developer Urbasolar in the year 2019 enabled Axpo to contribute to the expansion of climate-friendly power production on a European scale. Over the years, the two subsidiaries were developed to become strong growing competence centers for wind and solar energy. Over 500 of Axpo's nearly 5000 employees work in these two areas. As a consequence of the strong growth in the two business fields, Axpo has established a wind and solar division within its organization.
Solar business areas
With this step, we want to underpin the importance of the wind and solar business areas"
"With this step, we want to underpin the importance of the wind and solar business areas, and send out a clear signal for our strategy in the area of renewables," says Andy Heiz, Head Business Area Generation & Distribution, and Deputy CEO.
Christoph Sutter was instrumental in advancing and defining the development and expansion of renewable energies at Axpo over the last ten years. He has decided to leave the company in the fall of 2022 and return to his profession as an independent entrepreneur in the area of renewable energies and climate protection.
Katja Stommel, CEO of the Axpo subsidiary Volkswind, will take over as the Head of the Wind division as of 1 October 2022. With Antoine Millioud, Axpo has found an experienced leader to head up the Solar division. He will begin the position in the fall of 2022.