Germany-based energy utility Eon has hired Thomas Birr, a member of Global Corporate Venturing’s 2019 Powerlist, to oversee its innovation initiatives from next month, it announced today.
Birr has been chief executive of Innogy Innovation Hub, energy utility Innogy’s startup accelerator and corporate venturing arm, in addition to senior vice-president of innovation and business transformation at Innogy, since September 2016.
Prior to his most recent promotion, Birr had held several senior positions at RWE, Innogy’s parent company since 2000.
Birr was head of strategy and corporate development prior to joining Innogy, which was formed in 2016 by the amalgamation of RWE’s network, retail and renewable energy subsidiaries into a single entity.
The news comes at a time when Eon is expecting to complete the merger process with Innogy. It received approval for the deal from the European Commission in February this year while RWE secured permission from US regulators last month to acquire Eon’s North American renewables subsidiary.
Innogy CEO Uwe Tigges said: “Thomas Birr has made great strides for RWE and Innogy over the past 20 years. He had a crucial influence on the strategy of RWE. At Innogy, he made a significant contribution to our reputation as one of the most innovative companies in the energy sector.
“We are certain that in his future role, Thomas Birr will bring together the best of both worlds – Innogy and Eon – and will develop this even further.”
Photo courtesy of Thomas Birr.
