Statkraft picks internal manager as new CEO

Norwegian renewable power producer Statkraft AS on Monday announced the appointment of Birgitte Ringstad Vartdal, currently executive vice president Nordics at the company, as its new chief executive.

On April 1, Vartdal will take over the helm from Christian Rynning-Tonnesen who, as previously announced, has decided to step down after 14 years in the role.

Statkraft said it carried out a recruitment process with both internal and external candidates.

Vartdal has been in charge of Statkraft's largest business area, the Nordics, in the last two years. Before that, she led the business area European Wind and Solar at the company.

"Birgitte has a broad and relevant background as an Executive Vice President at Statkraft, and as CEO and CFO at the shipping company Golden Ocean. She is a very capable and assertive leader with the qualities required to lead a large international company,” said Alexandra Bech Gjorv, chair of the board of directors at Statkraft.

“We will continue to contribute as Norway's largest power producer and be the industry's most important partner by offering stable, green energy at competitive prices in the markets we operate in," said Vartdal.

Originally a Norwegian hydropower company, Statkraft now has over 6,000 employees and operations in 21 countries. It accounts for a third of Norway's power generation and describes itself as Europe's largest producer of renewable energy. The company also has significant activities in South America and India.

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