Wind turbine maker Siemens Gamesa hires new chief operating officer

Embattled turbine manufacturer Siemens Gamesa has hired Tim Dawidowsky as its new chief operating officer while it faces a “perfect storm” of challenges. Dawidowsky is due to start in his new role tomorrow (5 May).

Dawidowsky was most recently the senior vice president for project excellence at Siemens Energy, the European wind turbine maker’s parent company, and is credited with turning around several struggling businesses.

He has held senior roles in service, supply chain management and manufacturing in various Siemens business units over a 28-year career with the German industrial giant.

While as CEO of Siemens’ transmission solutions unit between 2012 and 2015, Dawidowsky led the business back to profitable growth and market leadership, Siemens Gamesa stated. He also performed a similar turnaround of Siemens’ large drives business unit when he acted as CEO between 2015 and 2019, the company added.

“He has a proven track record of effecting successful turnarounds in businesses operating in complex circumstances like those we are facing,” said Jochen Eickholt, CEO. Eickholt – who also came from parent company Siemens Energy – replaced Andreas Nauen as Siemens Gamesa’s chief executive in March.

Siemens Gamesa is currently reviewing its financial guidance as it faces challenges on multiple fronts: difficulties in ramping up its new onshore wind platform, cost inflation, supply chain and transportation issues.

Dawidowsky added: “The wind energy industry is a vital element in the energy transition and the battle against climate change, but at the moment the manufacturing sector is facing a perfect storm of issues that are threatening its progress.”

Dawidowsky will step down from Siemens Gamesa’s board of directors to assume his new role. A replacement will be announced in due course.