All news, insights and events
All news, insights and events
All news, insights and events

EIT InnoEnergy appoints new French CEO

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Karine Vernier as our new French CEO to lead the company’s activities in the region. Karine joins from the Prime Minister’s General Secretariat for Investment where she has been director of the “Energy and Circular Economy” programme since 2018.

Karine brings over 20 years of experience in the global energy industry

having successfully led numerous programmes in the clean energy sector, notably with energy giants ENGIE and GRTgaz. Karine has a strong entrepreneurial track record and a passion for innovation, having founded two companies in the natural gas and digital sector, and managed a third one in the clean fuel sector. These experiences give her a unique outlook on the start-up industry and invaluable insights on how to embrace its challenges and opportunities. Co-located in the Paris and Grenoble hubs, Karine will drive EIT InnoEnergy’s vision for a vibrant, sustainable European economy forward by supporting sustainable energy innovation across France.

Diego Pavia, CEO of EIT InnoEnergy, said:

“We are thrilled to have Karine join our team; her track record as an entrepreneur and vast experience in the sustainable energy sector will be invaluable in our mission to accelerate the energy transition in Europe. EIT InnoEnergy’s key to success lies in connecting people and creating impactful relationships – and Karine’s combined energy expertise and industry connections will bring significant value to our pan-European network of innovators and partners.”

 

This appointment comes at a pivotal time for France, as it begins to rebuild its economy in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. The €100 billion recovery plan, with €30 billion allocated to the ecological transition, sets an ambitious objective for the country as it strives to become one of Europe’s first decarbonised economies.

Karine Vernier, CEO of EIT InnoEnergy France, adds:

“We must act quickly if France is to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. We have a wealth of knowledge and resources at our fingertips, and it is imperative that we work together to identify the right opportunities to achieve our sustainability goals. Opening the doors to innovation and entrepreneurship is key to that and that’s why EIT InnoEnergy’s breadth of expertise in bringing start-ups to the market is more important than ever before.”