Swiss energy company Axpo has appointed Viktor Lir as the new Head of its Hydro & Biomass Division, effective 1 January 2027, succeeding long-serving division head Jörg Huwyler.
Huwyler will continue to lead the division until the end of 2026 before completing ongoing projects during the first half of 2027 ahead of his retirement in mid-2027.
Lir currently serves as Head of Asset Management within Axpo’s Hydro & Biomass Division, where he is responsible for licence renewals, project development and business development activities. He joined Axpo in 2009 and has held a range of roles across the company, including leading Mergers & Acquisitions in the New Energies Division between 2015 and 2020.
Axpo said the appointment supports continuity within a division that operates around 60 hydropower plants across Switzerland and plays a key role in the country’s renewable energy supply. The company is also active in energy generation from biowaste.
Commenting on the appointment, Andy Heiz, Head of the Generation & Distribution Business Area and Deputy CEO of Axpo, said: “Viktor Lir knows the people, processes and challenges of the business and brings the technical depth and vision required to successfully lead the Hydro & Biomass division into the future. At the same time, I would like to thank Jörg Huwyler for his many years of commitment, which have had a significant impact on the Hydro & Biomass division.”
Lir holds a degree in industrial engineering from TU Darmstadt and began his career in M&A consulting before joining Axpo. During his time with the company, he has worked on the commercial and financial structuring of infrastructure projects, as well as acquisitions and disposals across multiple sectors.
The official handover of responsibilities will take place on 1 January 2027.
