DNV GL Appoints Ditlev Engel as New Energy CEO

OSLO, Norway, March 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — DNV GL has appointed Ditlev Engel as the new CEO of its Energy business area. Starting 4 April, Mr Engel will succeed acting CEO Elisabeth Harstad and report to the Group President & CEO Remi Eriksen.

Ditlev Engel will join DNV GL as CEO of the group's Energy business area, which provides testing, certification and technical advisory services to the energy value chain including renewables, power grids, storage as well as energy use. He will be based at the DNV GL – Energy headquarters in Arnhem, The Netherlands and be a member of the Executive Committee for the DNV GL Group.

DNV GL Group President & CEO Remi Eriksen says; "I am very pleased to announce that Ditlev Engel has accepted the position as CEO of our Energy business area. He has extensive knowledge of the global energy industry, which will allow him to continue to develop our value proposition and services to our customers. In addition to his extensive experience building global businesses, he also brings impressive international leadership competence. I am confident that he will grow our business in wind and solar energy, transmission and distribution systems, and energy efficiency, while reinforcing our leadership position in independent testing of power system components, together with his 2,500 new colleagues in our Energy business area."

Ditlev Engel has a comprehensive international business skillset and leadership experience from executive positions based in The Netherlands, UK, Hong Kong, Denmark and Norway. From 2005 to 2013 Mr Engel served as Group President & CEO of the wind power manufacturer Vestas Wind Systems A/S. Before that, from 1985 to 2005 he held several executive positions at coatings manufacturer Hempel A/S, including Group EVP Marketing & R&D, and Group President & CEO in 2000 to 2005.

Mr Engel joins DNV GL from a number of senior non-executive board and advisory roles, which he will terminate in order to fully concentrate on his new position with DNV GL.

Commenting on his appointment, Ditlev Engel says; "I am delighted to join DNV GL and look forward to leading the Energy business in its next phase of development. A key success factor will be to focus on helping customers effectively address the trilemma of affordable, accessible and sustainable energy in an increasingly complex and changing market. Impressed by DNV GL's global presence, purpose and values, I look forward to converting DNV GL's new strategy 2016-2020 into actions together with my new colleagues. Being part of an exciting and competitive global industry, we must collaborate closely together with customers and partners to capture the opportunities embedded in change – from market and regulatory developments to new technologies, digitalization and innovation."

Ditlev Engel holds a degree in Business Administration from Copenhagen Business School, Denmark (1990), and has conducted further executive studies at INSEAD, Fontainebleu, France (1997).

About DNV GL

Driven by our purpose of safeguarding life, property and the environment, DNV GL enables organizations to advance the safety and sustainability of their business. We provide classification and technical assurance along with software and independent expert advisory services to the maritime, oil and gas, and energy industries. We also provide management system certification services to customers across a wide range of industries. Combining leading technical and operational expertise, risk methodology and in-depth industry knowledge, we empower our customers' decisions and actions with trust and confidence. We continuously invest in research and collaborative innovation to provide customers and society with operational and technological foresight. With our origins stretching back to 1864, our reach today is global. Operating in more than 100 countries, our 15,000 professionals are dedicated to helping customers make the world safer, smarter and greener.

DNV GL in the Energy industry

In DNV GL – Energy we unite the strengths of DNV, KEMA, Garrad Hassan, and GL Renewables Certification. Our 2,500 energy experts support customers around the globe in delivering a safe, reliable, efficient, and sustainable energy supply. We deliver world-renowned testing, certification and advisory services to the energy value chain including renewables and energy efficiency. Our expertise spans onshore and offshore wind power, solar, transmission and distribution, smart grids, and sustainable energy use, as well as energy markets and regulations. Our testing, certification and advisory services are delivered independent from each other.