People | Faces of the sector
Tracking the people driving change in the hydro industry, from new board appointments to career milestones
COWI appoints Interim Leader in Sweden as Executive Vice President steps down
COWI has announced a change in leadership in Sweden, with Susanna Ohlin appointed as interim Executive Vice President following the departure of Anders Wiktorson. Wiktorson is stepping down from his role to pursue a career opportunity outside of COWI. He has led the company’s Swedish operations for seven years. “Anders took over the leadership of COWI in Sweden seven years ago, and he has he has spearheaded the transformation of the business to align with COWI’s strategic direction. As a result, COWI in Sweden is now a profitable business with proven ability to win and deliver complex projects such as the Gothenburg West Link and the Karlstadbenet power transmission project, as well as taking on significant framework agreements with industry leaders such as Borealis and Preem,” said Group CEO Jens Højgaard Christoffersen. Christoffersen said the leadership change comes at a time of growth potential in the Swedish market: “Sweden is the biggest market in the Nordic region and holds a vast potential for COWI, especially within the Infrastructure, Buildings and Industry and Renewable Energy sectors. As Anders is leaving COWI, this is a good time to bring new leadership efforts into play to realise our ambition of continued growth in the Swedish market.” The company has started the recruitment
process for a permanent Executive Vice President for Sweden. Until a successor is appointed, Ohlin will assume the interim role alongside her current position as Senior Vice President of Infrastructure in Sweden.
Tom Clegg joins BHA Board
The British Hydropower Association has announced the appointment of Tom Clegg to its Board.
Clegg is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer with more than 15 years of experience in the UK hydropower sector. His work has covered the full project lifecycle, including run-of-river developments during the Feed-in Tariff period and current large-scale pumped storage hydropower projects. He is currently Head of Hydropower for Fichtner Consulting Engineers Ltd in the UK and
Ireland, where he oversees technical delivery and project management for major hydropower schemes of national significance. Clegg holds an MSc in Mechanical Engineering with Renewable Energy from the University of Edinburgh and is a certified Functional Safety Engineer through TÜV Rheinland.
His appointment comes as the association continues to focus on expanding pumped storage capacity and supporting the growth of the UK’s renewable energy infrastructure.”
Paul Bentley appointed to Mott MacDonald Executive Board
Mott MacDonald has appointed Paul Bentley to its executive board, effective 1 January 2026. Bentley has worked as a director at Mott MacDonald’s contracting business, JN Bentley, since 1999 and will continue in this role. JN Bentley became part of the Mott MacDonald group in 2014 and now delivers much of its work through the integrated design and build company Mott MacDonald Bentley (MMB). During Bentley’s leadership, MMB has
expanded its position in the UK infrastructure market and operates as a design and build contractor for water industry clients including Yorkshire Water, Anglian Water and Northumbrian Water. Bentley has more than 30 years of industry
experience. He began his career as a graduate and progressed through roles including site engineer, contracts manager and estimator. James Harris, chair and chief executive of Mott MacDonald, said: “Under Paul’s leadership, JN Bentley and its design and build companies have established reputations for operational excellence, continuous improvement and an unwavering commitment to health and safety. He is recognised for creating high-performing teams and forging long-term client relationships, particularly in the UK water sector. I look forward to working closely with him on the executive board as we continue to grow and deliver for our clients.”
Volue appoints Stephan Sieber as CEO
Volue has appointed Stephan Sieber as Chief Executive Officer, strengthening its leadership as energy companies increasingly turn to real-
8 | January 2026 |
www.waterpowermagazine.com
time intelligence, automation, and optimisation to manage electrified power systems. Volue, which provides software enabling
energy companies to improve efficiency, precision, and asset performance, said Sieber’s appointment reflects its focus on helping customers convert operational volatility into commercial advantage through data-driven decision-making. Sieber takes over following a year of organic
growth and selective acquisitions. The company said his mandate is to extend Volue’s market leadership across data and forecasting, trading, optimisation and planning, and grid operations, supporting customers as power systems become more decentralised and data intensive. Europe is expected to add as much electrification capacity by 2030 as it did over the previous three decades, driven by the electrification of transport and heating and rising demand from digital infrastructure, including AI and data centres. As markets transact continuously and decision windows shorten, power producers and system operators increasingly depend on real-time analytics and automated execution. Volue provides software and analytics to
more than 800 energy customers across Europe and Japan.
“With electrification accelerating and
system complexity rising, customers need to partner with the best technology providers,” commented Sieber. “Volue turns complexity into advantage, and the momentum with our customers right now is just the beginning. I’m extremely excited about where the company, the market, and our customers are, and how quickly the impact is compounding. We’re converting complexity into competitive advantage, together.” Pete Daffern, Chairman of Volue, said:
“Throughout his career, Stephan has consistently delivered exceptional results, driving growth, leading complex strategic and operational transformations, and building high-performing teams in some of the most competitive markets. He has an extraordinary ability to understand customer needs, anticipate market trends, and turn opportunities into tangible, lasting outcomes, earning him a reputation as a market-proven leader. As Volue continues to define and lead, the Board is unequivocally confident that Stephan’s unmatched experience and proven track record make him the ideal leader to accelerate the company’s next chapter.”
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