On Thursday, Ørsted appointed Peter Hepburn as its next head of generation in the UK, announces the Danish utility in a statement.
Hepburn will assume the position on Oct. 1, 2026. He comes from a role as chief operating officer at Spirit Energy and has previously held positions at companies including Maersk Oil. In total, he brings to Ørsted more than 30 years of management experience in offshore operations and organizational change processes.
In this role, he will be responsible for power generation from Ørsted’s 12 wind farms in the UK, comprising nearly 1,000 wind turbines and a total capacity of 5.7GW. In total, he will lead approximately 650 employees and more than 500 external contractors.
In addition, he will manage key relationships related to joint ventures and interactions with regulatory authorities, as well as be responsible for supporting the continued growth of Ørsted’s UK generation business in connection with the commissioning of Hornsea 3.
Satisfied parties
Hepburn is looking forward to joining Ørsted:
“The UK is a leader in offshore wind, and Ørsted has played a central role in building one of the world’s leading renewable energy portfolios,” he says in the announcement, adding:
“I look forward to working with colleagues across the company to build on this success, maintain the highest standards of safety and operations, and at the same time support the continued growth of offshore wind as a cornerstone of the UK’s future energy system.”
Hepburn’s direct supervisor will be Godson Njoku, who serves as the so-called generation director, and he looks forward to welcoming the new hire on board.
“His extensive operational experience, proven leadership skills, and deep insight into safety-critical offshore industries make him exceptionally well-suited to lead one of the world’s largest offshore wind portfolios,” he says, adding:
“As we expand our UK project portfolio and prepare for the commissioning of Hornsea 3, Peter’s leadership will help ensure that we continue to deliver safe, reliable, and efficient operations while creating long-term value for our customers, partners, and stakeholders.”