Top 10: Energy Leaders in the UK & Europe
It’s safe to say that the energy industry is undergoing nothing short of a significant transformation, and navigating such change requires pioneering minds to steer some of the world’s most influential brands.
In this series of Top 10s, Energy Digital shines a spotlight on some of the most influential and powerful leaders worldwide.
The first instalment, which you can read here, celebrates the top 10 energy leaders in the US .
Continuing this series, we now turn our attention to execs leading the UK and Europe’s biggest names in energy.
The European Union’s (EU) energy production comes from the following sources:
- 40.8% renewables
- 30.5% nuclear
- 17.6% coal
- 7.2% gas
- 3.7% oil
The EU aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, with the ultimate goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050.
In line with this, the UK has set equally — if not, more — ambitious targets, aiming for a 78% reduction in emissions by 2035.
Here, in the next instalment, read up on 10 of the UK and Europe’s energy leaders at the helm of the sector’s largest firms.
10. Catherine MacGregor
Company: ENGIE
Market cap: US$41.4bn
Country: France
French businesswoman and engineer Catherine has been in ENGIE’s top job since 2021. Alongside her role as CEO, Catherine also serves on the board of directors, allowing ENGIE to leverage her expertise, having spent the entirety of her career working in the energy sector.
“The magnitude and urgency of the energy transition makes it an unprecedented challenge for Europe,” she says.
“A successful transition means achieving net zero carbon while ensuring that the cost to citizens and businesses is kept under control, developing a robust and reliable energy system. To achieve this, we are convinced of the need to exploit all levers for decarbonisation.”
Outside of ENGIE, Catherine is a board member at Microsoft. Before joining ENGIE, she spent more than 20 years at Schlumberger — now SLB — in roles such as President of its drilling group, President of Europe and Africa area and Vice President of Human Resources, with her positions taking her to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the US and Malaysia.
9. Claudio Descalzi
Company: ENI
Market cap: US$48.1bn
Country: Italy
An ENI veteran, Claudio has been CEO of the Italian multinational energy company for a decade. He joined ENI in 1981 as an oil and gas field petroleum engineer and has risen through the ranks throughout his career.
Speaking on the high-stakes race to meet energy demand — with the added complication of not using Russian gas following the invasion of Ukraine — Claudio says: “I think that the war and the pandemic, we can say they were a wake-up call, especially for Europe.
“We discovered that the gas demand — and also carbon in general, but mainly on gas — isn’t elastic. It’s always at the same level.”
In 2014, Claudio founded the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative together with other CEOs of major oil and gas companies to lead the industry’s response to climate change.
8. John Pettigrew
Company: National Grid
Market cap: US$$68.1bn
Country: UK
Another executive with a long tenure at their respective company, John has extensive experience in the utility sector and joined National Grid as a graduate in 1991.
Since taking the top job in 2016, John has delivered transformational organisational and portfolio change at National Grid, positioning the company strongly for the energy transition.
7. Anders Opedal
Company: Equinor
Market cap: US$68.8bn
Country: Norway
“Equinor aims to be a leading player in the energy transition,” President and CEO Anders says. “This also means that we will shoulder our share of the responsibility for making Norway, as an energy nation, a hub for the rest of Europe.”
As CEO, Anders uses his platform to engage with topics close to his heart across the energy industry, including how technology is an accelerator to drive the transition to a low carbon future and how diversity and inclusion are key elements to deliver progress.
This drives Equinor’s focus on responsible exploration, production and development of oil and gas resources, as well as renewable energy solutions.
6. Gary Nagle
Company: Glencore
Market cap: US$68.9bn
Country: Switzerland
Becoming CEO in 2021, Gary has worked across Glencore’s marketing and industrial businesses in Australia, Colombia, South Africa and Switzerland since joining the company in 2000.
“We are uniquely positioned where we can provide sustainable, cheap energy, but also be the backbone of the energy transition,” he said on his appointment.
Since taking on the role of CEO, Gary has been integral in growing and transforming Glencore from a commodity trading business into one of the world’s largest globally diversified natural resource companies.
5. Flavio Cattaneo
Company: Enel
Market cap: US$80.4bn
Country: Italy
In May 2023, Flavio was appointed CEO and General Manager of Enel. His varied and vast career has seen him in influential positions at a variety of prominent Italian companies, including CEO of Telecom Italia, CEO of electricity transmission grid operator Terna as well as executive positions at RAI, Italy’s public broadcaster and private high-speed rail operator NTV-Italo.
It is this depth and breadth of experience that makes him such a revered leader in the energy space. Under his leadership, Flavio has shown unwavering dedication to advancing the company's renewable energy initiatives, as well as its global expansion. His expertise in managing large companies and driving efficiency and growth plays a vital part in this drive and outlook.
Alongside his role as CEO, Flavio also serves as Vice Chair of Endesa, a major Spanish utility and Enel subsidiary.
4. Murray Auchincloss
Company: bp
Market cap: US$83.4bn
Country: UK
Canadian business executive Murray Auchincloss has more than 25 years of experience at bp and, before permanently taking up the CEO job at the start of 2024, was the company’s CFO for three years.
Murray is a fourth-generation energy worker who began his career with Amoco in 1992 before joining bp when the companies merged in 1998. As CEO, Murray leads bp’s transition from an international oil company to an integrated energy company.
“His assured leadership, focus on performance and delivery and deep understanding of the opportunities and challenges in the energy transition will serve bp well as we continue our disciplined transformation to an integrated energy company,” Helge Lund, Chair of bp — who headed the search for their next chief — shared on Murray’s appointment.
Murray adds: “Now, more than ever, our focus must remain on delivery — operating safely and efficiently, executing with discipline and always focusing on returns. This is how we will deliver real benefits for our customers and other stakeholders and continue to grow long-term value for bp’s shareholders.”
3. Armando Martínez Martínez
Company: Iberdrola
Market cap: US$97bn
Country: Spain
Armando joined Iberdrola in 1997 and has spent most of his professional career at the company. His career has seen him hold several positions across Iberdrola and the geographies it covers, including Mexico.
His extensive experience spans engineering, generation and management roles within the company, allowing him to exert his influence and expertise.
He says: “Iberdrola is proving that tackling climate change can create value for both shareholders and society.
“Continued success depends on policy frameworks and regulation, technologies and cooperation to speed electrification by investing sustainably in energy systems based on smart grids and renewables.”
He also attests that Iberdrola’s continued success “depends on policy frameworks and regulation, technologies and cooperation to speed electrification by investing sustainably in energy systems based on smart grids and renewables”.
2. Patrick Pouyanné
Company: TotalEnergies
Market cap: US$150.9bn
Country: France
Patrick has been the Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies since 2015, leading the company's 105,000 employees in delivering affordable, clean, reliable and accessible energy.
A French engineer, Patrick joined TotalEnergies in 1997 and in the years since as held various senior positions, including Chief Administrative Officer of Total E&P Angola and CEO of Total E&P Qatar.
Under Patrick’s leadership, TotalEnergies has made significant investments across the energy industry, including exploration, production, refining, chemicals and renewable energy — strengthening its position as a supermajor oil company.
Keeping the global temperature rise below 2°C is a challenge everyone must meet. The next 20 years will be decisive in building a low-carbon future that does not curb economic and social development. In 2040, the global population is projected to be nine billion. That includes two billion people in Africa alone, where over 600 million people today do not have access to electricity. That figure worldwide is 1.2 billion.
Speaking of TotalEnergies’ climate strategy and on how the brand will continue to evolve and grow, Patrick says: “Our main responsibility is to help provide safe, affordable energy solutions to as many people as possible, while managing energy consumption and the related emissions. Doing this will entail improving energy efficiency across the board, optimising the fossil fuel mix and accelerating the development of renewable energies.
“Our ambition is to position Total as a global leader in these three priority areas and drive progress. Our integrated business model, which spans producing, refining or processing and marketing oil and gas, will be our biggest advantage in achieving this goal.”
1. Wael Sawan
Company: Shell
Market cap: US$204.5bn
Country: UK
Wael is undoubtedly one of the most influential figures in energy.
He joined Shell in 1997 as an engineer and worked his way up to CEO in January 2023.
“The energy transition won't come without challenges — that I recognise,” he says. “But the opportunity to be able to rewire the entire energy system towards lower carbon, under our watch?
“What a fantastic opportunity. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else other than in this sector, and specifically in this company, at this point in time.”
Wael’s Shell career has seen him work in each of the companies’ core business units: Upstream, Integrated Gas and Downstream, a clear display of his experience which guides and directs his leadership.
“Wael Sawan is an exceptional leader, with all the qualities needed to drive Shell safely and profitably through its next phase of transition and growth,” Shell Chair Andrew Mackenzie says. “His track record of commercial, operational, and transformational success reflects not only his broad, deep experience and understanding of Shell and the energy sector, but also his strategic clarity.”
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