Germany: WKN appoints new Chief Financial Officer

The position of CFO at Husum-based company WKN AG is to be assumed by Gabriel J. Meurer as of 1 April 2016. Mr Meurer, 59, boasts extensive financial management experience gained both in Germany and abroad, as well as long-standing expertise in international projects.

WKN AG’s previous CFO, Dr Jürgen Dambrowski, who has been a member of the Managing Board since 2014, will leave the company by the end of the first quarter of 2016, in agreement with WKN AG. In his capacity as member of the Managing Board and CFO, he was responsible for financial affairs, management accounting, administration, and services. “The Supervisory Board would like to thank Dr Jürgen Dambrowski for his contributions to the company and to wish him all the very best for the future, both professionally and personally,” announced Markus Lesser, Chairman of the WKN Supervisory Board.

After gaining a degree in business administration, Gabriel J. Meurer began working in financial project management for Mannesmann Anlagenbau AG and Krupp Industrietechnik GmbH in Duisburg. He later went on to become CFO and Member of the Board of Directors at Combibloc Asia Ltd. where, working from Thailand, he was responsible for setting up new manufacturing facilities in the Asian region. He then joined Hochtief AG, Essen, as Head of Strategic Projects and M&A.

As of 2004, Mr Meurer turned his attention to the fast-growing renewable energy market, assuming directorial posts at renergys GmbH, Ladenburg/St. Gallen and agri.capital GmbH, Münster/ Luxemburg. These roles saw him initiate and head large-volume international transactions in the wind, biogas, and photovoltaics sectors.

From 2011 to 2013, he was CEO at Advanced Tower Systems B. V., Enschede, in the Netherlands and at ATS Construction GmbH, Woerrstadt, Germany, a provider of engineering, construction, and licensing services for hybrid towers for wind energy plants. Furthermore, Mr Meurer has also worked as a consultant and board member for various companies, providing his services within the areas of infrastructure, renewable energy, and climate projects.

“The further internationalization of WKN’s project business is among our main objectives. Therefore, we appreciate to benefit from the expertise brought in by Gabriel J. Meurer in this area, and indeed in many others,” explained Markus Lesser. The future CFO will jointly manage the fortunes of WKN, being part of the PNE WIND Group, with the Chief Operating Officer (COO), Roland Stanze, who has been a member of the WKN Managing Board since the beginning of 2014.