The Supervisory Board of clearvise AG has appointed Bernhard Gierke as the new Chief Executive Officer effective February 1, 2026, succeeding Petra Leue-Bahns who will step down as planned at the end of her term on February 28, 2026. This leadership transition represents a critical juncture for the renewable energy electricity producer as it advances its strategic development into a YieldCo with a focus on stable cash flows and a long-term dividend policy.
Petra Leue-Bahns, who announced her departure for personal reasons on June 30, 2025, has significantly shaped clearvise AG during her tenure, building the company into an established European producer of electricity from renewable energies. Under her leadership, the company developed a broadly diversified portfolio of investments in wind and solar parks across several European countries with a total installed capacity of approximately 388 megawatts. "After many intense and successful years at clearvise, the time has come for me to hand over responsibility as planned," Leue-Bahns stated, expressing confidence in her successor's ability to continue the company's successful trajectory.
This leadership change matters because it signals clearvise AG's commitment to its YieldCo transformation announced in November 2025, a strategic shift with significant implications for investors and the renewable energy sector. YieldCos are structured to generate predictable cash flows and distribute dividends to shareholders, making them attractive to income-focused investors seeking exposure to renewable energy infrastructure. The appointment of Bernhard Gierke, an experienced manager with extensive background in renewable energies, investment, and asset management, positions the company to execute this strategy effectively.
Ingmar Helmke, Chairman of the supervisory board of clearvise AG, emphasized the strategic importance of this transition: "In Bernhard Gierke, we are gaining an experienced manager who will consistently continue the strategic development towards becoming a yield company." Gierke previously served as a director at Aquila Capital, where he was responsible for investments and management of energy infrastructure projects, and brings Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) credentials along with expertise in structuring, financing, and developing investment portfolios in renewable energy.
The implications of this leadership transition extend beyond corporate governance to impact shareholder value and the broader renewable energy investment landscape. As clearvise AG pursues its YieldCo strategy, the company aims to create additional value for shareholders by expanding its existing portfolio, generating stable operating cash flows, and implementing a reliable long-term dividend policy. This approach could influence how other renewable energy companies structure their operations and investor relations in an increasingly competitive market.
Bernhard Gierke acknowledged the strategic importance of his new role: "My goal is to further strengthen its position as a reliable YieldCo and to enable all shareholders to participate equally in the company's success through sustainable dividends." He noted that he and Leue-Bahns will work closely during a one-month transition phase to ensure smooth leadership transfer. The company's shares have been listed since 2011 and are traded on various German stock exchanges and via XETRA (https://www.clearvise.com).
This leadership transition at clearvise AG represents more than a routine executive change—it embodies the company's strategic pivot toward a YieldCo model that prioritizes predictable returns for investors while contributing to Europe's renewable energy transition. As energy markets evolve and investor expectations shift toward sustainable income streams, clearvise's approach could establish a template for how renewable energy producers balance growth objectives with shareholder returns in an increasingly competitive sector.
