Vattenfall chief executive Magnus Hall has been appointed as the new president of Eurelectric, the European industry association for the electricity sector.
The presidency is for two years, with Hall having been one of two vice presidents over the previous two years.
Patrick O’Doherty, chief executive of the Irish energy company ESB, and Leonhard Birnbaum, board member of the German energy company Eon, have been elected vice presidents for the next 24 months.
Hall (pictured) said: “Electrification is the key to changing Europe towards a fossil free future. My prime objective as president of Eurelectric is to continue the cooperation with decision makers and industry to increase the pace of electrification in the transport, heating and industrial sectors.
“Powered by carbon-neutral electricity, we can lead the transition in the energy industry and other sectors.
“This requires further investments in renewable electricity generation, as well as efficient electricity distribution. We also need to help citizens change towards a fossil free life.
“The conditions and starting points naturally differ in European countries and therefore we also need politicians within the EU to decide on frameworks and fair measures that create a broad social acceptance for the energy transition.”
He has been at Vattenfall since 2014 and was previously president and chief executive of the forest industry group Holmen.