Dutch gas grid and LNG terminal operator, Gasunie, has appointed Willemien Terpstra as its new chief executive officer.
State-owned Gasunie said in a statement on Wednesday that Terpstra will also take over the role as chair of the company’s executive board.
The appointment, starting on March 1, 2024, will be for a term of four years.
Currently, Terpstra is global VP for decarbonization with the international chemical company LyondellBasell, where she is responsible for the decarbonization of the group’s operations worldwide.
Terpstra will be succeeding Han Fennema, who earlier this year announced his intention to step down, after serving nearly ten years as Gasunie’s CEO.
Fennema will be stepping down as CEO on November 1, 2023, while Gasunie CFO Janneke Hermes will act as interim chair of Gasunie’s executive board until Terpstra steps in as CEO, the company said.
“I feel extremely motivated to work together with all Gasunie staff on further shaping the energy system of the future, a system in which we will strive to achieve a new balance between sustainability, reliability and security of supply,” Terpstra said in the statement.
“Gasunie plays a crucial role in the energy sector and has an ambitious vision of the future concerning the energy supply for the Netherlands and its neighboring countries,” she said.
Gasunie has been quite busy developing its LNG business over the last year, including the launch of the Eemshaven FSRU-based terminal.
The firm and its partner Vopak are also planning to take a final investment decision by September to build the fourth LNG tank at their Gate LNG terminal in Rotterdam.