Yesterday the European Heat Pump Association’s members voted in a new board of directors, which then elected Patrick Crombez, General Manager Heating and Renewables – Daikin Europe, as its president. He takes over from Martin Forsén from NIBE. The new board and president have a two year mandate.
Patrick Crombez said: “I’m honoured to succeed Martin Forsén as president of the European Heat Pump Association. Nearly 25 years ago, research institutes, manufacturers, universities, testing labs and energy agencies united around a shared goal to increase the adoption of low-carbon heat pump technologies. Their importance has only grown since the EHPA was established: as a central part of a renewable, sustainable and smart energy system, heat pumps are the number one heating and cooling choice for residential and professional use.
“If Europe’s industrialisation is a priority for this and the next EU commission, stability and consistency in regulations are basic requirements. Decarbonisation of heating is and can remain based in Europe. All EHPA members agree on that point. Together, we’re repeating our call for an EU Heat Pump Action plan without delay. Together, we are advocating for more energy independency and clean heat,” added Crombez.
Thomas Nowak, outgoing secretary general of the European Heat Pump Association (EHPA) said: “As I move from the position of EHPA secretary general to a member of its board, I am delighted that this key role of president will be held by Patrick. He will bring technical and European policy expertise as well as leadership and guidance to the association as the voice of a crucial net zero sector.”
The outgoing president, Martin Forsén, was thanked for his dedicated hard work and thoughtful input over the last ten years, and awarded honorary presidency of EHPA.
“We’d like to express the deepest thanks to Martin for his decade as president. He combines a fundamental knowledge of the technology with a far ranging oversight of EU energy policy. Under his presidency EHPA developed towards becoming the authoritative source of information on heat pump technologies in Brussels and beyond”, said Nowak.
The 15 members of the new board of directors (with members of the executive board in bold) are:
- Johannes Brugmann – Bosch Home Comfort
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Patrick Crombez – Daikin Europe NV – president
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Thomas Fleckl – Austrian Institute of Technology
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Hauke Hagen – Stiebel Eltron GmbH
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Dina Koepke – Copeland Europe GmbH – treasurer
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Valérie Laplagne – AFPAC (French heat pump association)
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Laure Meljac – NIBE
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Marek Miara – Franhofer Institute for Solar Energy System ISE
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Thomas Nowak – Qvantum Industries
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Barbara Priesching – Vaillant Group
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Rowena Rodrigues – Glen Dimplex – vice-president
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Marta San Roman – AFEC (Spanish association of HVAC equipment)
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Malgorzata Smuczynska – Polish Organisation of Heat Pump Technology Development
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Enrique Vilamitjana – Panasonic Appliance Air Conditioning Europe
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Andrea Voigt – Danfoss Climate Solutions – vice-president
“I am confident that this excellent board – made up of manufacturers, national associations and research institutes from a wide range of countries, all deeply rooted in the European market – will provide invaluable wisdom, oversight and balance. This will allow EHPA to continue to fulfil and expand its role as the voice of a leading net zero sector which has a central role to play in the decarbonisation of European heating and cooling,” concluded Nowak.
Yesterday’s General Assembly was Thomas Nowak’s last as secretary general of EHPA. He is stepping down and a new secretary general will be announced soon.
