Yves Rannou appointed Executive Chairperson, Steve Wright joins Board of Directors

ALAMEDA, CA — Natel Energy, a technology and engineering company specializing in high-performance FishSafe™ hydro turbine design, today announced strategic leadership appointments to accelerate the company’s next phase of global growth. Two new board members will drive grid modernization and environmental compliance in the U.S. and European Union. 

Joining Natel as Executive Chairperson, Yves Rannou shared, "I am returning to Natel because I see a massive opportunity for hydropower owners globally. Facing aging fleets and tightening regulations to preserve biodiversity, utilities need a modernization solution that extends the life of their investment and responsibly contributes to their communities. By transforming compliance from a cost center into a competitive advantage, high-performance FishSafe™ turbines extend asset life and maximize generation capacity, ensuring long-term asset value.”

Rannou’s appointment as Executive Chairperson follows his previous service as a board member for Natel from 2021 to 2023, where his guidance helped establish the company’s foothold in Europe. Rannou brings over 25 years of experience in energy innovation and heavy industry, having served as President and CEO of GE Renewable Energy’s Hydro division and most recently as Executive Vice President at SUEZ. In his new role, Rannou will guide Natel’s strategic direction, supporting commercial partnerships and capital growth.

“Throughout my career in the electric utility industry I have experienced firsthand the tension between maximizing generation and protecting the environment,” said Steve Wright, who is also joining the Natel Board of Directors.  “Natel’s technology is changing the dynamic from win-lose to win-win.  Natel technology is hitting the market at a time when there are tremendous societal needs for reliable, affordable electricity and strong environmental protection.”

Steve Wright is a widely respected leader in the American electric industry.  Wright served as Administrator of the Bonneville Power Administration for 12 years and subsequently as General Manager of Chelan Public Utility District.  His experience in hydroelectric generation, electricity marketing, grid operations and fisheries protection will be vital as Natel supports U.S. energy security with FishSafe™-produced flexible power generation.

“Natel is at an exciting inflection point,” said Gia Schneider, Co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer. “Yves’ return as Executive Chairperson and Steve’s arrival on the Board provide us with unparalleled experience in both global industrial scaling and U.S. power operations. Their leadership will be instrumental as we deploy our technology to modernize the grid and restore river ecosystems.”

These changes coincide with the departure of Bill Malus, who is stepping down as CEO. The company extends its sincere appreciation to Bill for his contributions and leadership over the last 18 months, during which Natel experienced incredible growth.

To support this transition, Gregor Cadman has been named Interim President. Cadman, who joined Natel in 2018 as Director of Engineering and currently serves as Chief Operating Officer, will oversee the company’s engineering, technology, and finance functions.

With a leadership team deeply rooted in both utility-scale operations and global innovation, Natel is uniquely positioned to meet the urgent demand for environmentally compliant, reliable, baseload power. The company remains steadfast in its objective of delivering high-performance FishSafe™ turbine designs as an essential tool to modernize aging hydro assets—unlocking increased power production and reducing costs for customers while ensuring regulatory compliance and environmental stewardship.

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About Natel Energy

Natel Energy is a technology and engineering company specializing in FishSafe™ turbine design that enables utilities to integrate the necessary costs of grid modernization with environmental compliance. By reducing the need for generation-limiting screens or spill, Natel FishSafe™ turbine runners unlock gigawatt-scale capacity for the AI-driven economy while lowering operational costs. Validated by installations across the U.S. and Europe, Natel’s technology delivers 98–100% safe downstream passage and is backed by world-class engineering, proprietary models, and unique in-house scale fish passage testing capabilities. Natel is a privately held company based in Alameda, California.

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