People | Faces of the sector
Tracking the people driving change in the hydro industry, from new board appointments to career milestones
Yves Rannou appointed Executive Chairperson, Steve Wright joins Board of Directors at Natel Energy
Natel Energy, a technology and engineering company specialising in high-performance FishSafe™ hydro turbine design, announced strategic leadership appointments to accelerate the company’s next phase of global growth. Two new board members will drive grid modernisation and environmental compliance in the US and EU. . Joining Natel as Executive Chairperson, Yves Rannou shared: “I am returning to Natel because I see a massive opportunity for hydropower owners globally. Facing aging fleets and tightening regulations to preserve biodiversity, utilities need a modernisation solution that extends the life of their investment and responsibly contributes to their communities. By transforming compliance from a cost center into a competitive advantage, high-performance FishSafe™ turbines extend asset life and maximise generation capacity, ensuring long- term asset value.”
Rannou’s appointment as Executive Chairperson follows his previous service as a board member for Natel from 2021 to 2023, where his guidance helped establish the company’s foothold in Europe. Rannou brings over 25 years of experience in energy innovation and heavy industry, having served as President and CEO of GE Renewable Energy’s Hydro division and most recently as Executive Vice President at SUEZ. In his new role, Rannou will guide Natel’s strategic direction, supporting commercial partnerships and capital growth. “Throughout my career in the electric utility industry I have experienced firsthand the tension between maximizing generation and protecting the environment,” said Steve Wright, who is also joining the Natel Board of Directors. “Natel’s technology is changing the dynamic from win-lose to win-win. Natel technology is hitting the market at a time when there are tremendous societal needs for reliable, affordable electricity and strong environmental protection.” Steve Wright is a widely respected leader in the American electric industry. Wright served as Administrator of the Bonneville Power Administration for 12 years and subsequently as General Manager of Chelan Public Utility District. His experience in hydroelectric generation, electricity marketing, grid operations and fisheries protection will be vital as Natel supports US energy security with FishSafe™-produced
flexible power generation, the company said. “Natel is at an exciting inflection point,” said Gia Schneider, Co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer. “Yves’ return as Executive Chairperson and Steve’s arrival on the Board provide us with unparalleled experience in both global industrial scaling and US power operations. Their leadership will be instrumental as we deploy our technology to modernise the grid and restore river ecosystems.” These changes coincide with the departure of Bill Malus, who is stepping down as CEO. The company extends its sincere appreciation to Bill for his contributions and leadership over the last 18 months, during which Natel experienced incredible growth. To support this transition, Gregor Cadman has been named Interim President. Cadman, who joined Natel in 2018 as Director of Engineering and currently serves as Chief Operating Officer, will oversee the company’s engineering, technology, and finance functions.
KCB expands hydropower expertise with Brisbane appointment
Global engineering consultancy Klohn Crippen Berger (KCB) has expanded its hydropower expertise in Australia with the appointment of Dr. Jay Choudhari as Senior Geotechnical Dams and Hydropower Engineer in its Brisbane office. Dr. Choudhari brings more than two decades of consulting experience in dam and hydropower engineering, with a career centred on rock mechanics and the development of major geotechnical structures across the energy sector. His work has spanned conventional hydropower, pumped storage schemes, and other complex infrastructure projects requiring advanced geotechnical design and coordination. Throughout his career, he has led
geotechnical components across all stages of project delivery – from concept development and prefeasibility studies through detailed design, commissioning, and post-construction reporting. His responsibilities have included engineering coordination, scheme layout development, and conceptualisation of critical structures within large and technically demanding hydropower developments. In addition to design and execution, Dr. Choudhari has extensive experience in planning and overseeing geotechnical investigations, undertaking site reconnaissance,
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performing risk assessments, and conducting constructability reviews. This breadth of experience is expected to support KCB’s continued involvement in major dam and hydropower projects across the Asia–Pacific region.
KCB said the appointment strengthens the
firm’s technical capacity in water and energy infrastructure, highlighting Dr. Choudhari’s commitment to delivering practical, safe, and robust engineering solutions for complex hydropower environments.
AECOM appoints Head of Renewables for Europe
AECOM has announced the appointment of Ivan Chindurza as Head of Renewables for Europe, strengthening its leadership team as demand for low-carbon power and grid-scale infrastructure accelerates across the region.. Based in Scotland, Chindurza will lead the
expansion of AECOM’s renewable energy portfolio in Europe, with responsibility for business growth, strategic client engagement and the delivery of major generation and storage projects. He joins the company with 19 years experience in the renewable sector. Chindurza moves to AECOM from Mott MacDonald, where he served as Operations Director for the Energy Generation Division. During his tenure, he oversaw the restructuring of the firm’s energy transition business, managed multidisciplinary teams of engineers and sustainability specialists, and directed multimillion-pound project portfolios for major renewable infrastructure clients. He began his renewable energy career in 2007 with Wood Group (formerly SgurrEnergy), following earlier experience as a market trader.
Commenting on the appointment, Eloise John, Director of Energy for Europe at AECOM, highlighted the strategic importance of the role. “The renewable energy sector is facing significant challenges, including grid constraints, connection delays, supply chain volatility and growing demand for energy storage and system flexibility,” she said. “Ivan brings extensive industry experience and strong leadership capabilities that will be critical as we continue to support clients across the UK and Europe in delivering resilient, low-carbon energy systems.”
AECOM is a major delivery partner for
renewable energy infrastructure across Europe, including hydropower, wind and solar.
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