Ørsted onshore wind leader to leave company

Ørsted’s onshore wind and solar head Declan Flanagan has decided to resign from the company.

The Danish developer has started the recruitment process for the next CEO of Ørsted’s onshore unit. A spokesman told Windpower Monthly it will consider “all relevant candidates” both inside and outside the company.

Flanagan has led Ørsted’s onshore unit since 2019 and also sits on the company’s executive committee. He was previously CEO of US renewables developer Lincoln Clean Energy, which Ørsted acquired in 2018, marking a re-entry into the onshore wind sector.

He said: “After three fulfilling and successful years at Ørsted – and twelve years after founding Lincoln Clean Energy – I’ve decided that now is the right time for a change.”

Neil O’Donovan, senior vice president and chief operating officer in Ørsted Onshore, has been appointed interim CEO of Ørsted Onshore and will take over the role with immediate effect. 

Flanagan will remain available to Ørsted until the end of September 2021 when he will officially leave the company.

Ørsted has 4.7GW onshore renewable energy production in operation and under construction.

In April 2021, it made its return to European onshore wind with a deal to buy a 100% interest in Brookfield Renewable’s existing Ireland and UK onshore wind business, Brookfield Renewable Ireland (BRI).