A few weeks ago, Eric introduced his group-wide RWE Global Mobility Hub in an interview with us - combined with the announcement of a separate series on current RWE expats and the background on their assignment in another country. The first episode takes us to Chicago, where Johannes Schulz will live with his wife and two children until mid-2024.

Johannes describes himself quite modestly as a travel-loving athlete, father and lawyer in the energy sector. He earned a bachelor's degree in business law, a master's degree in law, joined EON, and then moved to RWE in 2015. An ordinary curriculum vitae? Perhaps… if it weren't for the world-famous Fulbright scholarship (for which he now sits on the board of the German alumni association), a year at the University of Iowa, NGO involvement in the Philippines, jobs in Beijing and Riga, and a career jump to Team Lead and Compliance Officer at RWEST in Swindon. Now, after five years in Essen, he is on a long-term assignment to the USA - which also has a great significance for him in his private life: "My wife is from the Chicago suburbs. Our two children, August and Matilda, are able to spend the time with their American grandparents, a rare and unique opportunity." Johannes lives with his family in Hinsdale, one of the suburbs that "fulfills all the clichés about American ’burbs’." In just three days, he found a house and signed the lease and got all the furniture bought and delivered right after the keys were handed over. "There were only six days between the last day of daycare in Germany and the first in Hinsdale."

Mission in the Ethics, Integrity & Compliance team of great consequence for RWE Clean Energy

Professionally, his mission as Senior Compliance Manager of the new renewables subsidiary RWE Clean Energy is to implement critical and sustainable compliance structures in the young company. "Topics such as compliance and integrity to combat corruption and money laundering are to be firmly anchored in the new corporate culture." The assignment was triggered by an exchange between the board members of RWE Renewables Americas and the Chief Compliance Officer of RWE AG. The change in the structure of renewables, which was triggered by various restructurings and continues to this day, resulted in the merging of different corporate cultures which are now to be integrated into a uniform compliance management system. "I act as a liaison between RWE AG Compliance and the local compliance organization that oversees the business throughout the United States. Of course there are a lot of calls, but I also travel to the sites. My main tasks are communication, coordination, trainings and also diligence work, e.g. to incorporate the AG rules and regulations into local guidelines."

Johannes sees his expat experience as a time for professional as well as personal development, which he can also recommend to others in #TeamRWE. "RWE is more globally diversified than ever. I can learn a lot here and initiate changes myself. On top of that, there is the excellent support from the Mobility Hub, especially from Nevana Pesic. The Hub takes a lot of time for all formalities and also personal wishes. Its by my side until I return to Germany."