People | People on the move IWP&DC reports on recent appointments in the industry


Voith Hydro appoints Chief Service Officer; Voith Group names new CEO


Voith Hydro has appointed Sunil Pandiri to the global Board of Management as Chief Service Officer. This new role is designed to enhance the company’s service portfolio to better meet the needs of customers and their hydropower plants.


Sunil Pandiri began his career in 2004 as a


project manager at Jindal Steel & Power Ltd. in India. He joined Siemens in 2006, where he held various roles in international sales, product management, strategy, operations, and general management. From 2017 to 2019, he led the global service business for steam turbines. Between 2020 and 2022, he served as CEO of Siemens portfolio company Sykatec GmbH. Most recently, Pandiri was CEO for the North Europe & Middle East region at Siemens Gamesa. Pandiri holds a mechanical engineering


degree, an MBA from IESE Business School in Spain, a digital diploma from IMD in Switzerland, and has completed the Harvard General Management Program in the US. Voith Hydro Division is a branch of the Voith


Group. This parent company has recently appointed Dirk Hoke as the new President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The Voith Management GmbH Shareholders’ Committee announced that Hoke will assume the role no later than April 1, 2025. He will succeed Dr. Toralf Haag, who stepped down on August 31, 2024, after serving as the company’s CEO for several years. Until Hoke’s appointment takes effect, Andreas Endters, the current CEO of Voith Paper, will serve as interim CEO. Hoke, 55, brings 30 years of leadership


experience across industries such as aviation, automotive, and technology, with a particular focus on digitalization. He began his career in 1994 at Renault in Paris after studying mechanical engineering at the Technical University of Braunschweig. He later held various executive roles at Siemens between 1996 and 2016, including CEO positions in Africa, Industrial Solutions, and Large Drives. Most recently, Hoke served as CEO of Airbus Defense and Space and has been CEO of Volocopter GmbH since September 2022. In addition to his business roles, Hoke is a member of the Future Council of the German Federal Chancellor, focusing on enhancing Germany’s business innovation. He is also an alumnus of the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leader Program.


New Director (Projects) at NHPC


Sanjay Kumar Singh has assumed the role of Director (Projects) at NHPC Limited. Singh holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and has over 32 years of experience in the Power and Infrastructure sectors, including significant projects in India and Bhutan. Before joining NHPC, Sanjay Kumar Singh was the Chief General Manager at SJVN Ltd. He led several key projects, including the Sunni Dam, Naitwar Mori, Luhri Stage II, and Jhakhol Sankri hydroelectric projects. He also served as the CEO of STPL, a subsidiary of SJVN Ltd. Singh played a crucial role in constructing major components of the Nathpa Jhakri and Tala hydroelectric projects and was involved in pre-construction activities for the Devsari Hydroelectric Project. Singh’s expertise spans project construction,


survey and investigation, preparation of detailed project reports and cost estimates, bid document formulation, bid evaluation, contract management, and project planning and monitoring. NHPC Limited is the largest hydropower


development organization in India, responsible for handling all stages from conceptualization to commissioning. In addition to its primary focus on hydropower, NHPC has diversified into the development of Solar and Wind energy. As of March 31, 2024, NHPC’s total installed capacity is 7144.20 MW. This capacity includes 6971.20 MW from 22 Hydro Power Stations, 123 MW from three Solar Power Projects, and 50 MW from a Wind Power Project. Notably, NHPC’s hydropower capacity of 6971.20 MW represents about 14.85% of India’s total installed hydropower capacity, which is 46928.17 MW..


SSE Renewables appoints new Director of Hydro


SSE Renewables has appointed Robert Bryce as Director of Hydro, adding him to its Executive Committee. Bryce will oversee the company’s Hydro fleet in Scotland and lead key growth projects, including major developments at Coire Glas and Loch Fearna. He joined SSE Renewables in 2022 after 11 years at Siemens Gamesa and has recently led the Offshore Wind Asset Management team.


Heather Donald has also been appointed to


the Executive Committee as Director of Onshore Wind, Solar, and Battery (GB & Ireland). Donald will be responsible for the company’s operations


8 | October 2024 | www.waterpowermagazine.com


and growth across these technologies in its home markets, managing a 2GW operational portfolio and a secured pipeline of around 4GW. She previously oversaw the development and construction of SSE Renewables’ onshore wind pipeline in GB and Ireland. SSE Renewables Managing Director Stephen Wheeler praised the appointments, saying, “Heather and Robert are already key members of our senior leadership team, and they both bring extensive experience and expertise with them to our Renewables Executive Committee. I’m looking forward to working with them to deliver on our ambitious plans across our onshore technologies in GB and Ireland. As we continue to expand our pipeline and international footprint, Heather and Robert will ensure we’re setting our Onshore Wind, Solar, Battery, and Hydro teams up for continued success in our home markets.”.


Kleinschmidt Associates gains Senior Engineering Advisor


Kleinschmidt Associates has announced the addition of Kenneth Odom as a Senior Engineering Advisor. Odom joins with extensive experience from his time at Southern Company, where he served as a subject matter expert on dissolved oxygen enhancement projects at hydropower facilities. He is highly skilled in modeling and analyzing dissolved oxygen data, making critical operational decisions, recommending system improvements, and contributing as a key member of the FERC relicensing team. In his new role at Kleinschmidt, Odom will


leverage his expertise to provide innovative, data-driven solutions to hydropower clients across North America. “Kenneth has invaluable expertise in


hydropower, especially in the realms of plant operation and water quality, and is an excellent addition to our team,” said Mike Hross, Senior Engineer at Kleinschmidt. “We are extremely excited to have him on board.”


Odom holds a Bachelor of Science and a


Master of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Alabama and a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Tennessee. He is a past president of the Hydropower Foundation and the Alabama Section of the American Water Resources Association. He currently serves on the industry board of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at the University of Alabama.


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