On April 1, 2024, Dr. Catharina Friedrich will take over the management of the Westenergie subsidiary - DigiKoo GmbH, which provides municipal utilities, municipalities, network operators, and utility companies with data as well as analysis and forecasting systems for shaping the energy transition.
As a member of the board of Rhenag Rheinische Energie AG, Friedrich has previously been responsible for the utility company's operational energy business and succeeds Martin Möller, who will leave the Westenergie Group on March 31, 2024.
Catharina's experience
Dr. Catharina Friedrich has extensive professional experience in the energy industry. The graduate mathematician and doctor of engineering began her career at RWE Rhein-Ruhr Netzservice GmbH and quickly assumed management responsibility in various roles.
After working in various staff functions and as head of the construction planning department, Friedrich took over the management of the Sieg regional center of Westnetz GmbH. In this role, she was responsible for the planning, construction, and operation of the electrical and gas distribution networks together with around 200 employees.
operational energy
It has been known since November 2023 that Friedrich will resign from her position on the Board of Management
On January 1, 2020, Dr. Catharina Friedrich was appointed to the Board of Management of Rhenag Rheinische Energie AG and assumed responsibility for the operational energy business, from sales to technical issues to renewable energies.
It has been known since November 2023 that Friedrich will resign from her position on the Board of Management of Rhenag on March 31, 2024.
heat transition
"We are delighted that Dr. Catharina Friedrich is returning to her old place of work and will be a valuable addition to the Westenergie Group team in the future. She is an established expert in the challenges of the operational energy business," said Stefan Küppers, Chief Technology Officer of Westenergie AG.
He adds, "From her previous role, she knows very well how the heat transition will affect the existing infrastructure. I wish Dr. Friedrich every success in her work."
strategic business area
Katherina Reiche, CEO of Westenergie AG, stated, "Thanks to her expertise - most recently in the municipal environment - and her experience in the energy industry, Dr. Friedrich is the right person to further develop DigiKoo and the strategic business area of heat planning within the corporate group."
She adds, "We would like to thank Martin Möller very much for his outstanding performance in various important functions for the group."
significant contribution
Katherina Reiche continues, "Not only has he made a significant contribution to the strategic development of the Westenergie Group, but as managing director he has also successfully built up DigiKoo and ensured the company's consistent growth."
"I am grateful for the close and trusting cooperation over the past few years. I am pleased that Martin Möller will continue to work on the major challenges of the global energy industry in his new role and wish him all the best for this task and personally," adds Katherina Reiche.
Martin Möller
He made a significant contribution to the cultural integration of the individual units of Westenergie
Martin Möller joined the RWE Group in 2012. After working at RWE Consulting and as head of international market development in the grid division of innogy SE, he led the project to set up what is the Westenergie Group.
He then took over the corporate development department, coordinated the creation of the Westenergie Group's corporate strategy, and, among other things, made a significant contribution to the cultural integration of the individual units of the Westenergie Group with the Westwärts project.
global energy networks
Since the beginning of 2022, Möller has initially been the managing director of DigiKoo, which he has successfully positioned on the market since then.
On April 1, 2024, Martin Möller will take on a responsible role outside the group as an expert in global energy networks at a renowned management consultancy.