Industry veteran Hannibal named chair of Global Wind Energy Council

Current partner at CIP and CCO at Stiesdal Offshore shaped industry for 20 years, including as head of Siemens Gamesa

Michael Hannibal joins Stiesdal Offshore as chief commercial officer.
Michael Hannibal joins Stiesdal Offshore as chief commercial officer.Photo: Jon Norddahl

The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) has appointed industry veteran Michael Hannibal as its new chairman.

Hannibal, a partner at Danish renewables financier Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) and chief commercial officer at floating wind outfit Stiesdal Offshore, will take over for two years following from former Corio CEO Jonathan Cole.

Hannibal has been active in offshore wind for more than two decades, including seven years leading activities in the sector for wind turbine giant Siemens Gamesa.

"GWEC has been representing this pioneering and innovative industry for 20 years, and I am excited to work with the council's global team and diverse membership to continue scaling up wind capacity,” Hannibal said.

“New markets are taking shape on every continent, both onshore and offshore, and I am excited about ensuring GWEC's vital work, ensuring wind energy forms the foundation of the new global energy system, continues.

"Wind energy delivers clean and secure energy and is critical to avoiding a climate catastrophe.”

Hannibal played a key role in the growth of the wind sector and has been a major driver of the constant development of offshore wind, the industrialisation of the offshore wind sector and making offshore wind part of the energy mix in many countries, GWEC stressed.

He was also a key player in getting the world’s first floating offshore wind turbine established in 2009 and getting floating wind matured.

Girish Tanti from India and Elbia Gannoum from Brazil will continue as vice chairs of GWEC.

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Published 18 June 2025, 13:29Updated 18 June 2025, 13:29
Michael HannibalGWECCIPStiesdal Offshore TechnologiesSiemens Gamesa