Siemens Gamesa announced the departure of its Chief Executive Officer, Jochen Eickholt, who will step down on July 31st. This decision comes as part of the company's broader restructuring agenda, with Vinod Philip slated to assume the CEO role on August 1st.
The transition, characterized by Siemens Energy as a mutual agreement, sees Eickholt's departure by September 30th. Christian Bruch, CEO of Siemens Energy, expressed gratitude for Eickholt's contributions during challenging times, acknowledging his pivotal role in steering Siemens Energy through successful transformations in the gas services and industry divisions.
Bruch emphasized that the issues leading to quality problems did not occur under Eickholt's leadership, attributing him with laying essential groundwork for Siemens Gamesa's restructuring within Siemens Energy.
Regarding Philip's appointment, Bruch commended his versatile experience, stating, “Vinod Philip is an excellent and highly esteemed manager.” Philip's background spans operational expertise as well as strategic leadership, making him a fitting choice to lead Siemens Gamesa's wind power division through integration into Siemens Energy Group's management structure.
Siemens Gamesa, amidst its leadership transition, has initiated a comprehensive restructuring plan aimed at achieving a double-digit operating margin. The company aspires to break even by 2026 and subsequently return to profitable growth while maintaining activity in both onshore and offshore wind businesses.
The restructuring entails a strategic shift towards prioritizing markets with stable regulatory frameworks, such as Europe and the USA, for onshore operations. Concurrently, offshore capacity ramp-up efforts are underway at key sites in Germany, Denmark, and France.
Furthermore, Siemens Gamesa intends to streamline its organizational model by reducing hierarchical levels and clarifying responsibilities, a strategy previously successful within Siemens Energy.
However, these organizational changes will necessitate job adjustments, albeit with efforts to minimize impact through internal transfers. While the precise implications on individual countries and locations remain uncertain, Siemens Gamesa anticipates maintaining overall employment levels, especially with growth prospects in offshore operations.
