European Renewable Energy Company Statkraft Hires Executive VP of Sustainability: 5 Things to Know

Statkraft, which is Europe's largest generator of renewable energy, has hired Tone Skuterud as executive VP of people, organization, and sustainability.

She's expected to join Statkraft no later than April 1, 2025. Untile that time, Henrik Nissen Sætness will serve as acting EVP pf people, organisation, and sustainability. 

Here are five things to know about Statkraft's business and sustainability strategy, and Skuterud's executive experience.

1. Business Scope and Scale: Statkraft, founded by 1895, is based in Oslo, Norway. The company, backed by roughly 5,300 employees, develops and generates hydropower, wind power, gas power, district heating and solar power. Statkraft claims to be Europe's largest generator of renewable energy, and the Nordic region's third-largest energy producer.

2. Sustainability Strategy and Goals: Statkraft's sustainability strategy focuses on four key areas: Climate, Biodiversity, Circular Economy and the Just transition. For each area, the company has developed a roadmap towards 2030. Among Statkraft's key goals: Developing a net-zero value chain by 2040.

3. Executive Experience: Tone Skuterud currently is chief transformation officer at Telenor Norway, a major telecom business. Earlier, she spent Skuterud spent 12 years at Statkraft, where her responsibilities included serving as SVP Financial Reporting, Accounting, and Strategic Finance, Senior Advisor Corporate Strategy, as well as SVP Corporate Audit, the company notes. She also held key posts at Ernst & Young and Microsoft.

4. Executive Perspectives: In a prepared statement, Statkraft President and CEO Birgitte Ringstad Vartdal said: "I am delighted that Tone Skuterud has accepted the critical role of leading our new staff area dedicated to people, organisation, and sustainability. These areas are essential to Statkraft’s ability to deliver on our strategic priorities, including to deliver on a sustainability strategy that differentiates Statkraft in the green transition. Tone’s extensive experience in governance, HR, and sustainability will be invaluable in achieving these goals. I look forward to welcoming her back to Statkraft and to my corporate management team.

Added Tone Skuterud: "I am honoured to take on this new role at Statkraft, one of Norway's most valuable and value-creating companies, and an organisation I deeply respect. It feels like coming home. The integration of people, organisation, and sustainability is vital for driving organisational success and ensuring long-term value creation. I look forward to collaborating with colleagues across the company to strengthen Statkraft’s ability to meet its strategic goals and uphold its commitment to sustainability and stakeholder expectations," says Tone Skuterud. 

5. Executive Leadership Team: Tone Skuterud's appointment at Statkraft completes the company's new Group management team and updated organisational structure, announced by CEO and President Birgitte Ringstad Vartdal in October 2024, the company said.

Chief Sustainability Officers: Why Technology Partners Should Care

By 2027, 25% of Global 2000 companies will have assigned a chief sustainability officer (CSO) responsible for meeting their organization’s ESG goals and making ESG-related IT purchasing decisions, according to IDC.

The bottom line: Technology partners need to extend their sales, marketing, engagement and support strategies to successfully fulfill those CSO customer needs, Sustainable Tech Partner believes.