South African IPP SOLA Group has promoted 3 managing directors to lead the renewable energy developer after CEO Dom Willis stepped down in March (2024).

Former executive chair and regional group manager Jonathan Skeen has been appointed MD commercial. Skeen’s remit includes business development and group finance. He has had a varied career which includes 2 years at Spanish energy infra company Cobra Group and 12 years as an author for the French renewable energy NGO REN21.

Katherine Persson – who was formerly head of assets – becomes MD of assets, where she will oversee project development, project finance, asset management and the group’s sustainability and human resources teams. Persson has extensive experience in the renewable energy sector, having also spent 10 years at Australian renewable energy company Windlab.

Lastly, Ian Burger, who has held the position of chief technology officer for over 11 years, has been promoted to MD technical. He will oversee the engineering, procurement, construction and operations aspects for the company. Burger has built an extensive career at SOLA and has been instrumental in the company’s growth.

The trio has been involved in several notable SOLA projects, including the 195MW Springbok solar PV and the 386MW Lichtenburg wheeling cluster.

The appointees will report directly to the board.

Simon Haw, SOLA board chair, said: “Our board is extremely proud of the journey taken to become South Africa’s only 100% locally owned vertically integrated IPP.

“The new leadership structure provides an efficient and optimal way to run our development, financing, construction and operation companies.”