Former MHI Vestas chief Kavafyan returns to the fray in top job at Aker Offshore Wind

Industry veteran tasked with taking fast-moving Norwegian developer into growth mode in Asia, Europe and North America

Philippe Kavafyan speaking at Recharge's Energy Transition Summit in November 2019
Philippe Kavafyan speaking at Recharge's Energy Transition Summit in November 2019Foto: John Macdonald-Fulton/Recharge

Former MHI Vestas chief Philippe Kavafyan has been named to the top job at Norwegian offshore wind developer Aker Offshore Wind (AOW).

Kavafyan, whose career has spanned over 30 years in industry including with such energy heavyweights as EDF, GE and Areva, is tasked with accelerating AOW’s growth ambitions in deepwater markets in Asia, Europe and North America.

“Philippe Kavafyan’s broad experience as an executive in the offshore wind industry makes him the ideal candidate to take [us] through the next stages of development,” said Kristian Røkke, CEO of AOW parent Aker Horizons.

Kavafyan said: “AOW… is in a great position to lead the industrialisation of floating wind on a big scale, utilising its unique industrial heritage from the Aker group and strong, early positions in major offshore projects around the world.”

Kavafyan replaces Astrid Skarheim Onsum, who has decided to pursue interests outside the company from November.

Kavafyan, a Recharge Thought Leader, is a graduate from Ecole Polytechnique and holds a master’s degree in robotics and industrial management from Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines.
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Published 27 May 2021, 09:42Updated 27 May 2021, 09:42
Philippe KavafyanVestasAker HorizonsAker Offshore WindEurope