JERA Co., Inc. and bp have recently revealed the leadership team of their offshore wind joint venture, JERA Nex bp. This equally owned entity aims to position itself as a global leader in the offshore wind sector.
Nathalie Oosterlinck, currently CEO of JERA Nex, will assume the role of CEO of JERA Nex bp. She will be supported by an executive team drawn from both parent companies. Erin Eisenberg, currently vice president of finance for low-carbon energy at bp, will serve as chief financial officer. Richard Sandford, formerly senior vice president for offshore wind at bp, will take on the role of chief development officer. Zlati Christov, currently chief investment officer at JERA Nex, will retain the same position within the joint venture. Eric Antoons, co-CEO of Parkwind, will become chief operating officer, while Alfonso Montero Lopez, vice president of offshore wind engineering at bp, will be appointed chief technical officer.
Strategic objectives of JERA Nex bp
The formation of JERA Nex bp, first announced in December, is intended to accelerate the development of the combined project pipelines of both companies and improve access to competitive financing. Yukio Kani, global CEO and chair of JERA, stated that the leadership team brings together the best expertise from both companies and has the experience needed to lead this new phase of offshore wind energy development. He also expressed confidence in JERA Nex bp’s ability to play a key role in the energy transition in Japan, the UK, and beyond.
William Lin, executive vice president for gas and low-carbon energy at bp, added that JERA Nex bp will enter the market with a world-class leadership team and a strong portfolio of high-quality operating assets and ongoing projects. He emphasised that the joint venture will benefit from the solid partnership between the two shareholders, which extends beyond low-carbon energy.
Future outlook and development
The announcement of JERA Nex bp’s leadership team took place in the presence of Yoji Muto, Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Jonathan Reynolds, UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade, and Julia Longbottom, the British Ambassador to Japan. This event was part of the signing ceremony for the Memorandum of Cooperation in offshore wind power.
Subject to regulatory and other approvals, the new entity will have operating and development assets totalling a potential net generating capacity of 13 gigawatts, spanning Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, and the United States. The formation of JERA Nex bp is expected to be finalised by the end of the third quarter of 2025.
