European specialist growth investor Verdane announced a series of new appointments to bolster its decarbonization team, including Dr Erich Becker as a Partner, and Christina Levin-Rylander as the Chief Operating Officer for the firm’s in-house operational advisor team, Elevate.

Becker joins Verdane after leading investment firm Ene after leading investment firm Exergy Capital Management, focused on real assets, infrastructure and innovative companies throughout the energy value chain, as well as in interconnected sectors, that facilitate the transition to a low carbon emission economy. He has focused on energy investments for over 25 years, with companies including Goldman Sachs, Och-Ziff Capital Management, Macquarie Group, Zouk Capital, and Generate Capital. Becker will join Verdane in its London office.

Becker said:

“Decarbonisation is one of the most prominent investment themes in the foreseeable future, and Verdane has the credibility and culture needed to help the most exciting companies in this sector grow. I am impressed by Verdane’s way of working with companies, experienced team and consistent 20-year track record of delivering exceptional results.”

In her new role as COO of Elevate, Levin-Rylander will focus on decarbonization investments and lead Verdane’s sustainability team. Levin-Rylander joins the firm from Sweden-based battery manufacturer Northvolt, where she most recently served as Vice President Programs, and led the company’s recycling program for 4 years. Prior to Northvolt, she worked for 18 years at Linde Gas, holding a variety of executive roles.

Alongside the new senior appointments, Verdane also announced additional hires aimed at bolstering the firm’s focus on decarbonization and digitalization, including Nikolaj Ager Hamann as Senior Decarbonisation Project Director, and Principal Ali Ersöz. Hamann joins the firm after serving as Head of Business Development at Seaborg Technology, and Ersöz joins from Hg Capital, where he served as Principal.

Bjarne Kveim Lie, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Verdane, said:

“Adding Erich, Christina, Nikolaj and Ali to our bench of senior talent bolsters our already impressive team of investors and operational experts. We continue to be firm believers that decarbonisation and digitalisation are the most compelling structural growth megatrends of our time, and Verdane has the deep expertise, global network and consistent track record of success needed to partner with the leading companies in our thematic focus.”