InnoEnergy appoints Sébastien Clerc as CEO to drive 2030 growth plan

InnoEnergy, the impact investor industrialising clean tech innovation, has appointed Sébastien Clerc as Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 January 2026.

Diego Pavia, who has successfully led InnoEnergy since its 2010 inception, remains in the company for three more years to perform specific missions contributing to InnoEnergy’s ongoing success.

InnoEnergy ranked #1 most active venture capital investor globally in energy, according to PitchBook (Morningstar Group) in 2020, and from 2022 to 2024. Since 2010, InnoEnergy has launched or supported 540+ start-ups and scaleups, helping to grow four into industrial unicorns. These companies have raised more than €34 billion to date, created 47,000+ jobs and are on track to reduce 2.3 gigatons of CO2e by 2030.

Together with InnoEnergy’s team and relying on its unique ecosystem of industrial, financial and public partners, Sébastien Clerc will implement an ambitious 2030 growth plan unanimously backed by InnoEnergy’s 39 shareholders. Over the next five years, InnoEnergy will scale new industry champions by accelerating its current 160+ clean tech portfolio investments and by supporting additional companies, while reinforcing its academic and training business units - fully contributing to Europe’s clean industrial ambitions. By 2030, InnoEnergy plans to mobilise up to €160 billion in clean tech investment representing the total financing required for its portfolio over the next five years. InnoEnergy’s plan reflects its solid pipeline of clean industrial ventures.

InnoEnergy’s shareholders unanimously appointed Sébastien Clerc, recognising his extensive leadership in the energy transition, his long experience as investment decision-maker, and his strong track record in mobilising finance. For the past 13 years, Clerc was CEO of Voltalia. During his tenure, he transformed what was a young start-up into an integrated renewable energy producer and service provider, active in 20 countries. Voltalia, which was listed on Euronext Paris in 2014, is invested in hundreds of solar, wind, biomass and battery projects, and in innovative start-ups in sectors such as electric vehicle charging and biomass valorisation. Previously, he founded and led for 12 years Natixis Environment & Infrastructure (now renamed Mirova), a pioneering fund management firm dedicated to sustainable investment, including in industry decarbonisation and renewable energy production.

Hervé Bernard, Chairman of the InnoEnergy Supervisory Board, said: “On behalf of InnoEnergy, I want to thank Diego for his unwavering leadership, which has been instrumental in the company becoming the number one clean tech impact investor in the world. Sébastien brings the right experience to take over the helm and deliver on the company’s ambitious 2030 growth plans.”

Diego Pavia, CEO of InnoEnergy, said: "I have been honoured to lead InnoEnergy for the past 15 years. Our track record is the result of the hard work of this incredible trusted ecosystem of 1.400+ partners. As our upgraded branding captures well, we are ‘industrialising clean tech innovation, at scale and at unprecedented speed’. Now we are gearing up for the next phase captured with our ambitious ‘Vision 2030’, unanimously approved by our shareholders. Sébastien is the best choice for leading its implementation.”

Sébastien Clerc, incoming CEO of InnoEnergy, added: "I am honoured to join InnoEnergy as we witness a new industrial revolution, which brings tremendous business opportunities all over the world. Reaffirmed by the Clean Industrial Deal, clean tech is the backbone of Europe’s economic growth, where only the bold frontrunners will prevail. I recognise InnoEnergy as being in that category. Building on Diego’s legacy and together with InnoEnergy’s incredible team, I look forward to taking the company to the next level.”

The announcement was made today in Lisbon at InnoEnergy’s annual flagship event The Business Booster, which brings together over 2000 entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders to fast-track the energy and industrial transition.

ENDS

ABOUT INNOENERGY

Transitioning global energy. Transforming every industry.

InnoEnergy is industrialising clean tech innovation to enable and grow a global net zero economy. Active in Europe and the US, the company invests in early-stage start-ups and the current and future workforce, building resilient clean tech value chains that drive sustainable economic growth. Through its ecosystem – with 1,400 partners including 39 shareholders spanning industry, finance, public policy, and academia – the company scales the energy transition at speed.

Since 2010, InnoEnergy has supported 540+ companies, helping to grow 4 into industrial unicorns. These companies have raised more than €34 billion, created 47,000+ jobs, and secured €943 million in revenue. They are also on track to reduce 2.3 gigatons of CO2e and save €13.5 billion in energy costs by 2030. Currently, InnoEnergy is invested in 160+ start-ups and scale-ups.

Thanks to InnoEnergy’s academic and training business unit, 2.500+ alumni from its Master School are entering executive positions in innovative institutions all around the globe, while 125.000+ upskilled workforce are operating many of Europe’s clean tech manufacturing champions.

In support of the EU’s climate and industrial goals, InnoEnergy leads industrial alliances in batteries and solar, and accelerates the uptake of green hydrogen.

InnoEnergy was established in 2010 by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union, as one of its first Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KIC). In 2025, the EIT and InnoEnergy entered into a new partnership, where they will continue collaborating on specific projects.