Energy: Uniper extends CEO Lewis' contract by five years

Continuity at the top of the company: Michael Lewis has led Uniper since 2023. The energy company's supervisory board has now appointed him as CEO until 2031.

Michael Lewis: His contract was extended early. Photo: Federico Gambarini/dpa

Dusseldorf. Uniper boss Michael Lewis is supposed to lead the energy company into the next decade. The supervisory board had prematurely appointed the manager as CEO for another five years until the end of October 2031, the largest German gas company announced on Thursday.

Lewis has been head of the Düsseldorf group since 2023. With the early decision, the company wants to ensure continuity at the top in a phase of important strategic decisions.

The federal government nationalized Uniper during the energy crisis in 2022, thereby protecting it from impending bankruptcy. The EU Commission had stipulated that the federal government reduce its stake to a maximum of 25 percent plus one share by the end of 2028.

The federal government is currently examining how this will happen. A sale or an IPO is possible. Lewis has always advocated that Uniper should remain independent.

More: Uniper considers postponing methane regulation to be insufficient