New Head for Nuclear Energy Division

21.06.2015 - Willibald Kohlpaintner (56) has been appointed the new Head of Nuclear Energy at Axpo. He succeeds Stephan Döhler, who will give up operative management of the division at the end of 2016 at his own request. Willibald Kohlpaintner will begin in his new function on 1 January 2017.

Kohlpaintner holds a Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering and has acquired excellent, broad expertise in the area of energy and power plant technology, as well as long-standing experience in managing complex technical organisations. Over the past 20 years, Willibald Kohlpaintner held various functions at E.ON and at the predecessor company PreussenElektra. Born in Bavaria, he is currently the Power Plant and Location Manager of the power plants Isar 1 and 2. In addition, he is responsible for the management of Kernkraftwerk Isar Verwaltungs GmbH.

„I look forward to the new environment in Switzerland, and to working with a very professional, expert team,“ says Willibald Kohlpaintner. „I am sure that my operative and strategic experience in the area of nuclear energy will make a value contribution to Axpo.“

Andy Heiz, Head of Assets at Axpo: „With Willibald Kohlpaintner we have found an individual with excellent qualifications for the challenging environment in the area of nuclear energy.” In his function as the Head of the Nuclear Energy Division, Kohlpaintner will also be responsible for the management of the Leibstadt nuclear power plant.

The handing-over will take place at the end of 2016. The current division Head, Stephan Döhler, will support the new Head of the Nuclear Energy division in the function of Senior Manager Nuclear Energy in a reduced capacity, and also work on various strategic projects. Furthermore, Döhler will continue to represent Axpo on the Board of Directors of the National Cooperative for the Disposal of Radioactive Waste (NAGRA) and the Central Interim Storage Facility Würenlingen AG (ZWILAG).