The Supervisory Board of Amprion GmbH has appointed Katrin Hilmer as Chief Operating Officer and Director of Labor Relations, effective April 1, 2026. This strategic expansion of the transmission system operator's leadership team comes as the company's responsibility for Germany's energy system transformation continues to grow, with Amprion experiencing an average 13 percent employee growth over the past five years.
Hilmer, currently Managing Director of DB Energie GmbH, will assume responsibility for human resources, operations, occupational safety, and European affairs. She joins the existing management team consisting of Dr. Christoph Müller (CEO), Dr. Hendrik Neumann (CTO), and Peter Rüth (CFO). Uwe Tigges, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, emphasized that Hilmer's appointment underscores the company's commitment to increasing female representation in executive positions throughout the organization.
The energy transition represents a critical generational project requiring robust infrastructure development, a challenge Hilmer expressed enthusiasm for addressing in her new role. Her background includes extensive international experience in the USA, Spain, and France, along with various management positions within DB Group and DB InfraGO AG. Since 2022, she has led DB Energie GmbH with responsibility for human resources and security operations.
Amprion's operational significance extends across Germany's energy landscape, operating one of four transmission system networks with 11,000 kilometers of extra-high voltage grid connecting the North Sea to the Alps. The company's infrastructure supports one-third of Germany's economic output and serves 29 million people while employing over 3,100 workers across more than 30 locations. Additional information about the company's operations and infrastructure projects can be found at https://www.amprion.net.
This leadership expansion occurs as Germany accelerates its transition toward climate-neutral energy systems, requiring substantial grid expansion and modernization. The appointment reflects the increasing complexity of managing Europe's interconnected energy networks while maintaining grid stability and security during the renewable energy transition. For HR vendors, this development signals several important trends in the human resources and talent management landscape.
The sustained 13 percent annual employee growth at Amprion demonstrates the significant workforce expansion occurring within critical infrastructure sectors during energy transition initiatives. This growth creates substantial opportunities for HR vendors providing recruitment, onboarding, training, and talent management solutions to organizations undergoing similar transformations. The appointment of a COO with direct responsibility for human resources indicates the elevated strategic importance of HR functions within organizations managing complex operational challenges during major transitions.
Hilmer's dual role overseeing both operations and labor relations suggests an integrated approach to workforce management that balances technical requirements with employee relations considerations. This model may become increasingly common in industries undergoing rapid transformation, creating demand for HR solutions that bridge operational efficiency and employee engagement. The emphasis on increasing female representation in executive positions reflects broader diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives that many organizations are prioritizing, creating opportunities for vendors specializing in DEI consulting, training, and analytics.
The scale of Amprion's operations, supporting one-third of Germany's economic output and serving 29 million people, illustrates the magnitude of workforce management challenges in critical infrastructure sectors. As organizations like Amprion expand their grids and modernize systems, they will require sophisticated HR solutions to manage geographically dispersed workforces, ensure occupational safety across diverse operational environments, and develop talent pipelines for specialized technical roles. The international experience Hilmer brings to the role highlights the global nature of energy transition challenges and suggests that organizations may increasingly seek HR leaders with cross-border experience as they navigate interconnected systems and international workforce considerations.
