Hyundai Motor president Jaehoon Chang appointed co-chair of Hydrogen Council

The Hydrogen Council, a global initiative led by CEOs who share a common vision and long-term goals for hydrogen to accelerate the clean energy transition, has appointed Hyundai Motor Company President and CEO Jaehoon Chang as its new co-chair, alongside Linde CEO Sanjiv Lamba as co-chair. The two co-chairs will work closely with member CEOs to advance the Council's next phase of development, with a focus on unlocking hydrogen demand and creating a framework for global trade and accelerated investment.

As a founding member of the Hydrogen Council, Hyundai Motor has been at the forefront of hydrogen energy development for nearly half a century since the company was founded, achieving many firsts, including the world's first mass-produced fuel cell electric passenger car and heavy-duty vehicle (FCEV), which set a record for the world's best-selling product. The company's commitment to realising a hydrogen society extends to the entire hydrogen value chain, not just mobility, providing business solutions from production to storage, transportation and utilisation.

Jaehoon Chang, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor and the new co-chair of the Hydrogen Council, said, "The Hydrogen Council is an important step in our global energy transition efforts. I am delighted to be appointed as Co-Chair, and I look forward to working with other hydrogen leaders to bring the Council's vision to life and amplify the positive impact of hydrogen globally."

Jaehoon Chang takes over from Yoshinori Kanehana, Chairman of Kawasaki Heavy Industries, who served as Co-chair over the past two-and-a-half years and who said: “It has been an honour to contribute to this key global initiative and help make significant strides in advancing hydrogen as a vital solution for a sustainable energy future. I look forward to continuing to support the Council’s efforts as a dedicated member.”

(L-R): Yoshinori Kanehana, Kawasaki Heavy Industries; Sanjiv Lamba, Linde; Ivana Jemelkova, Hydrogen Council; and Jaehoon Chang, Hyundai Motor Company. (Photo: Hydrogen Council)

Sanjiv Lamba, CEO of Linde and Co-Chair of the Hydrogen Council, said: "On behalf of the Council, I would like to thank Kanehana and his team at Kawasaki Heavy Industries for their outstanding contribution to our shared mission and to welcome Jay as the new Co-Chair. His vision and experience will be invaluable as we grasp the opportunities and challenges and make hydrogen the cornerstone of a clean energy future. ”

Ivana Jemelkova, CEO of the Hydrogen Council, said: "We are at a critical juncture in the hydrogen industry. Our combined efforts are critical to accelerating hydrogen as a viable climate solution, and I'm excited to work with leaders like Jaehoon Chang and Sanjiv Lamba and their strong teams to drive this mission forward."

The leadership change took place last week at the Hydrogen Council's annual CEO event. More than 200 CEOs and executives from the world's leading hydrogen companies and investors gathered in Berlin, Germany, to take stock of progress, discuss practical solutions, and demonstrate a new commitment to collaboration.

The Hydrogen Council brings together 140 diverse companies from 20 countries in the Americas, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific. The Council covers the entire value chain, including large multinationals, innovative start-ups, and investors, with a membership market capitalisation of approximately $9 trillion, 6.8 million full-time employees, and approximately $6.4 trillion in revenue.

The Council is committed to unlocking the sustainable development potential of clean hydrogen, promoting business and technological innovation, advancing sustainable development, creating quality jobs and realising social value through large-scale deployment of reliable hydrogen solutions.