The EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) has named Christof Lessenich as its next director, succeeding Christian Zinglersen as head of the agency.
The appointment follows an open recruitment process, a favourable opinion from the Board of Regulators, and Christof Lessenich’s statement and questioning today before the European Parliament’s ITRE Committee, according to ACER.
Lessenich will serve a five-year term, renewable once for up to five additional years, with his exact start date to be announced shortly. In the interim, Volker Zuleger continues to serve as director ad interim, having taken over following Zinglersen’s departure.
Lessenich brings more than two decades of experience in EU energy and competition policy
A German national, Lessenich brings more than two decades of experience in EU energy and competition policy, the update reads.
Since 2021, he has headed the Internal Energy Market Unit at the European Commission’s DG Energy, overseeing initiatives across EU electricity and gas markets. He previously held senior positions at DG Competition and worked earlier in his career as a solicitor in private practice.
Lessenich holds a PhD in Law
He holds a PhD in Law from the University of Bonn and an LLM from the University of Cambridge.
As Director, Lessenich will head up and lead the agency, which plays a central role in supporting well-functioning, integrated, and resilient European energy markets designed to deliver clean, affordable, and secure energy across Europe, ACER stressed.
Zinglersen joins the European Investment Bank Group
In July, former ACER director Christian Zinglersen announced his departure to take on the role of Deputy Secretary General at the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group.
Zinglersen’s initial five-year term was renewed at the end of 2024.
He was among the keynote speakers at the 2025 edition of Belgrade Energy Forum, organized by Balkan Green Energy News.
