Siemens Energy has unexpectedly replaced Jochen Eickholt, the head of its struggling wind power division Siemens Gamesa. Eickholt, known for his tough restructuring style, was brought in two years ago to address the subsidiary's persistent technical and financial woes, which contributed significantly to Siemens Energy's substantial losses last year.
Eickholt's departure is attributed to "individual life planning," despite his reputation as someone unlikely to leave before the subsidiary's problems were resolved. Siemens Energy CEO Christian Bruch emphasised that the underlying issues predated Eickholt's tenure.
The wind power industry faces challenges such as cost pressures, supply chain disruptions, and global competition. Eickholt will be succeeded in August by Siemens Energy board member Vinod Philip, marking the fourth Gamesa leadership change in four years.
Alongside the management change, Siemens Energy announced a revised strategy for Gamesa. Rather than divesting its struggling onshore wind turbine division, the company plans to focus on profitable markets such as Germany and the US. This shift aims to restore Gamesa's profitability by 2026, while simultaneously expanding its offshore wind turbine business.
