EPEE appoints Folker Franz as new Director-General

The European Partnership for Energy and the Environment (EPEE) has welcomed Folker Franz, a German national and public affairs professional, as its new Director-General starting August 1. He will take over from outgoing Director-General, Andrea Voigt.

Founded in 2000, the EPEE represents Europe’s HVAC&R industry; it has more than 50 member companies, and national and international associations. The EPEE has played an important role in supporting the F-Gas Regulation – the primary tool in Europe for phasing down HFCs – and also works to raise the profile of the HVAC&R industry through campaigns such as Count On Cooling.

Folker comes most recently from Hitachi ABB Power Grids and the ABB Group, a multinational corporation active in power and industrial automation technologies, where he was the Head of Government Relations for the EU. Before joining ABB in 2012, Folker worked at BusinessEurope, the European business federation. As Industrial Affairs Director, he represented European industry in the political discussions around the landmark 2020 EU climate and energy package.

“This is a very exciting time to join EPEE,” says Folker. “The heating and cooling industry is a key sector in the European Green Deal and clean energy transition. EPEE’s members contribute with their technologies to ensuring that European citizens can lead healthy, productive and comfortable lives in a rapidly changing world. As the new Director-General I feel honoured to continue Andrea’s great work and ensure that EPEE will pursue its dialogue with EU policymakers, its collaboration with partners around the world, and its path to help the EU achieve its climate and energy goals.”

Voigt leaves the EPEE after 12 years in the role of Director-General. She will take up the position of Vice President, Head of Group Public Affairs and Sustainability at Danfoss.

“EPEE has grown considerably over this last decade, and is considered today as a major voice of the refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump industry in Europe and internationally,” says Voigt. “I truly enjoyed leading EPEE over these past 12 years, both from a professional and from a human perspective. Now it’s time to move on and I am very much looking forward to taking up a new challenge at Danfoss. I am leaving EPEE in excellent hands, and wish Folker all the best in leading this great association through very exciting times for our industry sector.”

CC image courtesy of Arno Mikkor on Flickr.