RWE has announced a major leadership transition in its offshore wind division, with Sven Utermohlen set to step down as Chief Executive Officer on 30 September 2026.
Tobias Keitel, currently Chief Technology Officer, will assume the CEO position effective 1 October 2026, ensuring continuity in strategy and execution.
The transition comes at a critical time for RWE as it accelerates the expansion of its offshore wind portfolio. Under Sven Utermohlen’s leadership, the company strengthened its position as a global offshore wind leader, leveraging over 20 years of industry experience to scale development, construction, and operations capabilities. CEO Markus Krebber acknowledged his contribution, highlighting his role in driving portfolio growth and operational excellence.
Tobias Keitel brings strong technical and operational expertise to the CEO role. Since joining the management board in September 2025, he has overseen engineering, procurement, and construction, as well as HSSE (health, safety, security, and environment). Prior to RWE, he served as CEO of Voith Hydro, gaining extensive experience in large-scale energy infrastructure. His leadership is expected to further accelerate project execution and strengthen RWE’s offshore wind competitiveness.
The new management structure will include Chief Financial Officer Gunhild Grieve, Chief Commercial Officer Ulf Kerstin, and Chief Operating Officer Thomas Michel. Meanwhile, Julian Garnsey will step into the Chief Technology Officer role from 1 October 2026. Garnsey, who has been with RWE for more than 20 years, currently leads construction and project delivery, overseeing multiple offshore wind developments across global markets.
RWE’s offshore wind growth strategy is backed by significant project investments. The company is currently developing four large-scale offshore wind farms with a combined capacity of 4.8 GW. These include Sofia in the UK (1.4 GW), Nordseecluster in Germany (1.6 GW), Thor in Denmark (1.1 GW), and OranjeWind in the Netherlands (795 MW). RWE’s share of this capacity stands at 3.1 GW, reflecting its strong equity position in these projects.
Partnerships play a key role in execution, with Nordseecluster and Thor being developed alongside Norges Bank Investment Management, while OranjeWind is a joint venture with TotalEnergies. These collaborations enable risk-sharing and capital efficiency while accelerating deployment timelines.
Looking ahead, RWE aims to expand its offshore wind capacity by a net 5 GW by 2031, supported by a robust pipeline of development projects. The leadership transition is aligned with this long-term strategy, positioning the company to scale operations, manage complex multi-country developments, and capture growth opportunities in the global renewable energy market.
