Danish wind turbine manufacturer Vestas has strengthened its executive leadership by appointing Anna Mascolo, a seasoned energy industry executive from Shell, as President of its Northern & Central Europe division and Global Offshore business. The appointment marks a significant leadership transition as long-serving Vestas executive Nils de Baar prepares to step down after years of leading the company’s European operations.
Mascolo officially joined Vestas on 3 August 2026, taking charge of one of the company’s most strategically important business units. Her responsibilities include overseeing onshore sales, construction, service, and project development across Northern and Central Europe, while also leading Vestas’ global offshore wind operations. The role places her at the forefront of the company’s efforts to accelerate renewable energy deployment in some of the world’s fastest-growing wind power markets.
The appointment comes as Vestas continues to strengthen its position in the global wind energy industry, where demand for both onshore and offshore renewable energy projects is expected to rise significantly over the coming decade.
Before joining Vestas, Mascolo served as Executive Vice President of Low Carbon Solutions at Shell, where she led the company’s low-carbon energy initiatives. Throughout her more than two-decade career at the energy major, she held several senior leadership positions spanning acquisitions, new business development, global aviation, and chemicals, building extensive experience in commercial strategy, international operations, and energy transition initiatives.
Beyond her executive responsibilities at Shell, Mascolo also serves as an Independent Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Remuneration Committee at Rolls-Royce SMR, and previously held the position of Vice Chair of the RaÃzen Board, further highlighting her experience in steering large-scale energy and industrial businesses.
Academically, Mascolo holds a master’s-equivalent degree in Physics from the University of Padua in Italy and Imperial College in the United Kingdom. She later completed executive programmes in Competitive Strategy and Leading Digital Marketing Strategies at INSEAD in Singapore, complementing her technical expertise with global business leadership skills.
Commenting on her appointment, Mascolo said she is excited to join Vestas during a pivotal period for the wind industry. She noted that Northern and Central Europe offer significant opportunities as governments continue advancing ambitious climate and clean energy targets, creating favorable conditions for expanding renewable power generation.
Vestas President and CEO Henrik Andersen described Mascolo as a leader who brings a rare blend of commercial expertise, international management experience, and deep knowledge of the global energy sector. He said her background will be instrumental in helping Vestas capitalize on emerging opportunities across both onshore and offshore wind markets.
The leadership change also signals the conclusion of an important chapter for Vestas. Nils de Baar, who has spent many years with the company, will retire from operational responsibilities and is expected to leave the organization by the end of September. During his tenure, he played a key role in expanding Vestas’ presence across Europe while strengthening customer relationships and supporting the broader transition toward renewable energy.
Recognizing De Baar’s contributions, Andersen credited him with building a stronger business through his commitment to customers, employees, and the clean energy transition, adding that his leadership leaves a lasting impact on the company.
Mascolo’s appointment also reflects a broader trend within the renewable energy sector, where companies are increasingly recruiting experienced leaders from traditional energy businesses to accelerate the shift toward cleaner power solutions. Her arrival follows significant changes at Shell, which has recently reduced its investments in renewable energy under CEO Wael Sawan as it refocuses on its core oil and gas operations.
With extensive global leadership experience, a strong commercial background, and expertise spanning both conventional and low-carbon energy, Mascolo is expected to play a central role in advancing Vestas’ long-term growth strategy and strengthening its leadership in the evolving global wind energy market.
 Read more: Procter & Gamble Appoints Panagiotis Nikakis as CIO for South East Europe to Drive Digital Transformation
