Birgitte Ringstad Vartdal appointed as Statkraft CEO

The board of Statkraft has appointed Birgitte Ringstad Vartdal as the new CEO of the company, with her role commencing 1 April 2024.

She comes from her position as executive vice president Nordics at Statkraft, succeeding Christian Rynning-Tønnesen who has decided to step down after 14 years.

"The board is very pleased that Birgitte has accepted the position as CEO of Statkraft...She is a very capable and assertive leader with the qualities required to lead a large international company. It is a strength that we are appointing a new CEO from within our own ranks, who knows the company, the organisation, and our key stakeholders well," says Alexandra Bech Gjørv, chair of the Board of Directors at Statkraft.

Over the past two years, Vartdal has led Statkraft's largest business area, the Nordics. Before that, she headed the business area overseeing the development of wind and solar power in Europe, new business, group procurement, and project delivery.

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Vartdal holds a degree (MSc) in Physics and Mathematics from The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and a Master of Science (MSc) in Financial Mathematics from Herriot Watt University in Scotland.

She has previously been a board member at Yara and Mowi, and a member of the corporate assembly at Equinor. She currently serves on the board of Renewable Norway and several of Statkraft's subsidiaries.

"Statkraft is an important company in the energy transition of Norway, Europe, and the world, and I am proud to be a part of the journey. We will continue to contribute as Norway's largest power producer and be the industry's most important partner by offering stable, green energy at competitive prices in the markets we operate in," says Birgitte Ringstad Vartdal, the new CEO of Statkraft AS.

Statkraft accounts for a third of Norway's power production and has significant operations in South America and India. It invests in, builds, and operates renewable energy in Norway, Europe, and selected international markets.

"Statkraft is well-positioned and has great opportunities to contribute to the green transition and create green jobs in Norway and internationally. Climate change and the need for energy security increase the demand for renewable energy while technology development and scale reduce costs. This provides opportunities for continued strong and profitable growth as long as we continue to work as efficiently, safely, and sustainably as possible," says Vartdal.

Outgoing CEO Rynning-Tønnesen first joined Statkraft in 1992 - 2005 and returned to the company as CEO in 2010 after serving as CEO of Norske Skog.

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"I want to congratulate the board on the appointment of Birgitte as the new CEO. She has a relevant background and knows the organisation and business very well. Birgitte is strategic, analytical, and capable of engaging the organisation. She has a down-to-earth personality that in many ways embodies Statkraft's values: acting responsibly, making an impact, and growing together," said Rynning-Tønnesen.

Statkraft originated as a Norwegian hydropower company but has evolved into an international renewable energy company with operations in 21 countries. The company has a portfolio of more than 400 renewable projects that could be developed over the coming years.