{{Short description|German Business Executive}} '''Volker Bernd Beckers''', {{post-nominals|sep=,|country=GBR|CBEh}} (born 22 May 1964)<ref>[https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/officers/Dcu6oOp8I-NQwrI5FLQ8RJw5cP4/appointments Companies House]</ref> is a German business executive, and a former Group CEO of RWE npower.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/8363419/Volcker-Beckers-A-carbon-tax-kills-incentives-for-power-generators-to-invest-in-greener-fuels.html|title=Volcker Beckers: A carbon tax kills incentives for power generators to invest in greener fuels|last=Cave|first=Andrew|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=2011-03-05|access-date=2019-02-12|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}</ref>
{{Infobox person | name = Volker Beckers | image = S216 volker-beckers.jpg | birth_name = Volker Bernd Beckers | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1964|05|22}} | alma_mater = University of Cologne(MBA) | occupation = Group CEO RWE Npower 2010-2012 }}
He is currently Non-Executive Chairman of Cornwall Insight,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cornwall-insight.com/about-us/who-we-are/volker-beckers|title=Volker Beckers|website=www.cornwall-insight.com|access-date=2019-02-12}}</ref> Non-Executive Chairman of Foresight Metering,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.financedigest.com/foresight-metering-appoints-ex-npower-ceo-volker-beckers-as-non-executive-chairman-to-lead-smart-meter-funding-drive.html|title=Foresight Metering Appoints Ex Npower CEO, Volker Beckers, As Non-Executive Chairman To Lead Smart Meter Funding Drive|website=Finance Digest Magazine|date=30 November 2017 |language=en-GB|access-date=2019-02-12}}</ref> Honorary Chairman of Energy Live News,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.energylivenews.com/2017/07/17/volker-beckers-becomes-eln-chairman/|title=Volker Beckers becomes ELN Chairman|date=2017-07-16|website=Energy Live News|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-12}}</ref> and Non-Executive Director of the Nuclear Authority Board,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.energylivenews.com/2015/03/09/ex-npower-boss-joins-uk-nuclear-authority-board/|title=Ex-npower boss joins UK nuclear authority board|date=2015-03-09|website=Energy Live News|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-12}}</ref> and holds positions on several other boards and organisations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=83970143&privcapId=241545119|title=Volker Beckers Bloomberg|last=|first=|date=|website=www.bloomberg.com|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-02-12}}</ref>
==Early life== He attended the University of Cologne (''Universität zu Köln'').<ref>''The Times'', 3 October 2011, page 47, ''Monday Manifesto''</ref>
After graduating with a master's degree in business administration, he worked for Compunet Computer AG (later Computacenter) as Head of the Training and Education Centre and then moved to the management consultancy part of the business as Division Manager responsible for Project Management methods and IT Development Projects.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsm.nl/ecfeb/about/advisory-board/members/volker-beckers/|title=Volker Beckers|website=www.rsm.nl|language=en|access-date=2019-02-12}}</ref>
==Career==
Prior to joining RWE npower, he was Vice President Corporate Controlling and Development at RWE Net AG in Dortmund, and from February 2003 was also responsible for organisational development. Before that, he held several senior positions at RWE Energy AG. His last position before the merger with VEW Energy AG was Head of Controlling business unit grid in Essen.
===RWE npower=== Volker Beckers was RWE npower's Group CFO from 2003 to 2009.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/volker-beckers|title=Volker Beckers - GOV.UK|website=www.gov.uk|language=en|access-date=2019-02-12}}</ref> In January 2010 he became chief executive. Volker was Group CEO of RWE Npower plc until the end of 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/volker-beckers|title=Volker Beckers - GOV.UK|website=www.gov.uk|language=en|access-date=2019-02-12}}</ref>
Whilst at the Big Six company, he successfully oversaw substantial investment in the UK generation fleet, with the completion of two efficient gas-fired power stations – Staythorpe and Pembroke – as well as its customer service platform and the sale of Horizon Nuclear Power.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.energylivenews.com/2017/07/17/volker-beckers-becomes-eln-chairman/|title=Volker Beckers becomes ELN Chairman|date=2017-07-16|website=Energy Live News|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-13}}</ref>
In 2012 it was announced that RWE npower would start commercial operations of its 2,000 megawatt (MW) gas-fired power station at Pembroke.
Npower had already announced that the 1 billion pound ($1.6 billion) combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power station would become operational during the third quarter of 2012 but had not cited a specific month.
“With the full commercial operation of our new 1 billion pounds power station in Pembrokeshire next month ... RWE npower now has the largest and most efficient fleet of flexible gas-fired power stations in the country,” Volker Beckers, group CEO RWE npower said at the presentation of its second-quarter results.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/energy-britain-power-idUSL6E8JE7EL20120814|title=RWE to start UK Pembroke gas power plant in Sept|date=2012-08-14|work=Reuters|access-date=2019-02-13|language=en}}</ref>
For his efforts as a leader in the industry he has been recognised in 2012 with the Supreme Award for “outstanding contribution to the industry” and as the first Executive Director of the UK energy sector.
Commenting on his award, Volker Beckers said: “I am honoured to have been recognised for my contributions to the industry. There are a lot of challenges and changes ahead for energy in the UK and further afield, but having seen the hard work, dedication and innovation of those working in the sector on a day-to-day basis, I have no doubt the industry will rise to meet them.”<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.npowermediacentre.com/r/4576/rwe_npower_ceo_recognised_for_contribution_to_ene|title=npower Online media centre {{!}} RWE npower CEO recognised for contribution to energy industry {{!}} npower {{!}} Online Media Centre|website=www.npowermediacentre.com|access-date=2019-02-12}}</ref>
=== Non-executive and Representative Roles === In addition to his role at RWE Npower, Volker Beckers has held a number of representative roles, including deputy chairman of the Executive Commercial Management Committee at BDEW (German Association of Energy and Water Industries),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/volker-beckers|title=Volker Beckers - GOV.UK|website=www.gov.uk|language=en|access-date=2019-02-12}}</ref> the UK industry body for the energy sector (Energy UK),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/volker-beckers|title=Volker Beckers - GOV.UK|website=www.gov.uk|language=en|access-date=2019-02-12}}</ref> and also represented the German and UK companies at Eurelectric's "Finance & Economics" Focus Group.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.biee.org/conference-list/financing-the-energy-transition/speakers/|title=Speakers {{!}} BIEE|website=www.biee.org|access-date=2019-02-12}}</ref>
He is member of King's College advisory board at the European Centre for Energy and Resource Security (EUCERS)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kcl.ac.uk/sspp/departments/warstudies/research/groups/eucers/members.aspx|title=King's College London - EUCERS Members|website=www.kcl.ac.uk|access-date=2019-02-12}}</ref> and was Councilor of the German-British Chamber of Industry & Commerce.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/volker-beckers|title=Volker Beckers - GOV.UK|website=www.gov.uk|language=en|access-date=2019-02-12}}</ref> He is also a member of The Worshipful Company of the Fuellers and Fellow of the Energy Institute (FEI), London.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsm.nl/ecfeb/about/advisory-board/members/volker-beckers/|title=Volker Beckers|website=www.rsm.nl|language=en|access-date=2019-02-12}}</ref> He became “Honorary Vice-President and Advisory Board Member“ at the Energy and Utility Forum in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://energyandutilityforum.org.uk/home/|title=Who we are {{!}} Energy & Utility Forum|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-12}}</ref>
In 2017 Volker Beckers became Honorary Chairman of Energy Live News.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.energylivenews.com/2017/07/17/volker-beckers-becomes-eln-chairman/|title=Volker Beckers becomes ELN Chairman|date=2017-07-16|website=Energy Live News|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-13}}</ref>
In October 2018, Volker Beckers became the chair of energy tech start-up, Piclo,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://piclo.energy/team/|title=Piclo Team|date=2018-11-01|website=Piclo|language=en-br|access-date=2019-05-24}}</ref> applying his industry expertise to facilitating the growth of its flexibility marketplace that enables Distribution System Operators (DSO) to procure flex and other ‘smart’ energy services.
==Personal life== He is married with two children.<ref>{{cite web |title=Volcker Beckers: A carbon tax kills incentives for power generators to invest in greener fuels |website=The Daily Telegraph |date=5 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005205240/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/8363419/Volcker-Beckers-A-carbon-tax-kills-incentives-for-power-generators-to-invest-in-greener-fuels.html |archive-date=2022-10-05 |url-status=live |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/8363419/Volcker-Beckers-A-carbon-tax-kills-incentives-for-power-generators-to-invest-in-greener-fuels.html}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.gov.uk/government/people/volker-beckers Biography] *[https://www.gov.uk/government/people/volker-beckers Biography Gov.UK]
{{S-start}} {{S-bus}} {{S-bef|before= }} {{S-ttl|title= Chief Executive of RWE npower |years= January 2010 - November 2012 }} {{S-aft|after= Paul Massara }} {{S-bef|before= }} {{S-ttl|title= Finance Director of RWE npower |years= November 2003 – December 2009 }} {{S-aft|after= }} {{S-end}} {{RWE}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Beckers, Volker}} Category:1964 births Category:Businesspeople in electricity Category:German chief executives Category:RWE Category:University of Cologne alumni Category:Living people Category:Honorary commanders of the Order of the British Empire