Swisspower Renewables Strengthens Management: André Cruz Appointed COO for Wind, Hydro and PV at Swisspower Renewables

Zug (Switzerland) – Swisspower Renewables AG is strengthening its leadership structure by appointing André Cruz as Chief Operating Officer (COO).

In this role, he will be responsible for the operational management and further development of the European portfolio of wind, hydro, and photovoltaic plants. The power plants operated by Swisspower Renewables currently generate over 700 GWh of renewable electricity per year and contribute to the energy transition.

“With André Cruz, we are gaining a COO who knows the full spectrum of our business from first-hand experience – from project development through construction and operations to power marketing,” emphasizes CEO Lars Hieke. Cruz has extensive experience in renewable energies, most recently at MET Group as Windenergy COO. Previously, he worked at Smartenergy as Senior Manager Investments and held various management positions at the Elektrizitätswerke des Kantons Zürich (EKZ), including Head of Solar Business and Asset Manager Renewable Energies.

Cruz, a graduate mechanical engineer from ETH Zurich, also holds a Diploma of Advanced Studies (DAS) in Accounting & Finance from HWZ Zurich. “Swisspower Renewables combines the long-term perspective of Swiss municipal utilities with a clear focus on operational depth and excellence,” said Cruz. He looks forward to working with the team to further optimize the wind and hydro power plants, advance repowering, and successfully implement the pipeline of photovoltaic and storage projects.

Swisspower Renewables AG, based in Zug, operates onshore wind, hydro, and photovoltaic plants in Germany and Italy. In 2024, the company, with 74 employees, achieved revenue of over 65 million CHF (approx. 70 million euros).

Source: IWR Online, Dec 12 2025