Ocean Energy Europe Appoints New CEO

Rémi Gruet has been appointed CEO of Ocean Energy Europe – the trade association for ocean renewable energy.

Gruet joined Ocean Energy Europe as Policy & Operations Director last year and succeeds Dr Sian George, who was appointed to oversee the reinvention of the association as Ocean Energy Europe in 2012. Gruet will be tasked with shaping the policy context that will help Europe’s ocean energy sector reach commercialisation over the coming decade.

“Consistent and stable support from Brussels and Member States will be vital to the success of the ocean energy industry. Rémi has the experience and expertise to secure and shape this support and put the sector on a solid path towards mainstream power production”, said Mr Ken Street, Vice President of Ocean Energy Europe.

“The Board would also like to thank Sian George, who undertook and delivered an impressive restructuring and growth strategy during her tenure. Her work is very much appreciated”, continued Mr Street. Dr George will continue to serve as an advisor to the board.

Rémi Gruet spent six years in the private sector, followed by 10 years working at EU level; first as a Political Advisor at the European Parliament, then as Senior Advisor on Climate and Environment at the European Wind Energy Association. He is a leading EU authority on the Emissions Trading System (ETS) and renewable energies, and authored the 2011 report, Wind Energy and 2020 EU Climate Policy. He is a visiting lecturer on climate and energy at the University for Political Science in Lille, France.

Gruet has a degree in economics and a master’s degree in Environmental Management.

“I am very pleased to be appointed CEO of Ocean Energy Europe. The sector faces significant challenges over the coming years, and I look forward to working with the industry, academia and policy makers to help find solutions and turn ocean energy into a real EU industrial success story”, said Rémi Gruet.