Personal Experience Richard Pratt

tThe time after the IGP (2005 – today)

When I finished the IGP in 2005 I started working for RWE Power within the Business Development department where I stayed for 3 years. I got a great opportunity to build concrete knowledge about power generation. The department grew after years of consolidation and this process reflected the changes of the market. It was highly needed that our work concentrated on the expansion of the business.

During my stay I got a variety of very interesting and exciting tasks. Besides working on strategic projects we also worked on the realisation of organic growth of RWE, especially in Central- and South-Eastern Europe. My main topics were to build up networks, the identification and development of powerplant projects as well as the participation in a tender process. I really enjoyed working in such a dynamic department because at that time there was a strong need to build up new powerplant capacities throughout Europe. I had a lot of fun with my colleagues working together on these new opportunities for RWE.

After such an intensive time focused on the future business of RWE the move to a more operative department was the next logical step for me. In 2008 I decided to change my job and move to the contract management. Here I could extend my knowledge of negotiations with third parties to conclude contracts and at the same time deepen my background of the energy sector. 

Rapidly in spring 2008 I got an offer for the position as Assistant of the Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) of RWE AG and I accepted. The CSO is responsible for the Strategy, M&A, R&D and Business Development of the whole RWE Group. At this point I used the interesting opportunity to gain insight in exciting business transactions with relevance for the whole RWE group.

Fortunately I could realize the job change within a relatively short amount of time. I´m very grateful to my superiors for supporting me during this process. After taking over the assistant position so quickly I will now consolidate for some time before I proceed with the next step in the middle of 2010.

Conclusion: work remains fascinating, the group changes, becomes faster, adjusts to the changing market enviroment, influences the market and grows continuously. After the IGP I still enjoy my job at RWE very much and I am surprised by the variety of tasks on offer within the group once you start looking for new opportunities. The IGP network helps a lot because it gives different perspectives and insights that go beyond the usual.