Vattenfall vice president leaves for CEO role at energy company

Vattenfall senior vice president and markets chief Martijn Hagens is leaving the Swedish power giant to take up the CEO role at Dutch utility Eneco.

Vattenfall announced Hagens’ departure today, adding that a recruitment process for his successor would start immediately.

Hagens, who is also CEO of Vattenfall’s Dutch unit, said that after more than two decades at the company he felt it is “time to take on new challenges.”

“This decision has not been easy. It has been shaped by personal considerations, including the demands of frequent travel between Amsterdam, Hamburg, and Stockholm. This new role is an exciting opportunity that allows me to work closer to home and to my family.”

Anna Borg, President and CEO of Vattenfall, said Hagens has “played a pivotal role in shaping Vattenfall’s strategic direction towards fossil freedom and strengthening our position in the European energy market.”

“His performance-oriented and constructive leadership style has left a lasting impact, and we are sad to see him go.”

Japanese-owned Eneco, which put out its own announcement today, said that Hagens will become the new CEO effective 1 March 2026. Kees Jan Rameau will continue as interim CEO until that date.

Mel Kroon, chair of Eneco’s supervisory board, said: “We are excited to appoint a very competent new CEO in Martijn Hagens. Martijn will carry Eneco’s sustainable strategy forward and foster its further growth.”

Eneco currently boasts a more than 2.5GW portfolio of renewables facilities, including wind farms in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and the UK.

Eneco has been active in offshore wind power since 2007 and was as of last year involved in eight North Sea wind farm projects.