17 July 2019

The International Hydropower Association (IHA) has appointed Eddie Rich as its new Chief Executive Officer, following a global recruitment search led by the association’s board, it was announced today.

The former Deputy Head of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) has worked extensively in international development. He has a long track record of achieving transformational change through delivering ground-breaking, multi-stakeholder partnerships with industry, government and civil society.

Mr Rich will take up his appointment on 9 September 2019. He succeeds Richard M Taylor who is stepping down to work as an independent consultant and who will support the new CEO in a consultative capacity through 2020.

In a statement, IHA President Ken Adams said: “Mr Rich will bring to the role extensive international experience, most recently as a founder and senior executive of the EITI. IHA welcomes Mr Rich and looks forward to working with him as the hydropower sector helps to contribute solutions to the energy transition challenges faced by the world today.”

Mr Rich said: “There is need for a bigger and better contribution to green energy from hydropower. IHA is the key organisation to make sure that the industry is well informed about good practices, has the capacity to implement them, and the world benefits from the best use of this precious technology. IHA's work on building and sharing high quality and evidence-based knowledge is critically important.”

“Much has been done. There is much to do. I look forward to taking this forward with an excellent team. I pay tribute to Richard Taylor who has brought us so far with unparalleled passion, knowledge and skill. I look forward to working with him to ensure a strong and smooth transition.”

Welcoming the appointment of his successor, Mr Taylor stated: “It has been a tremendous privilege to represent the International Hydropower Association. The hydropower sector has changed significantly in the last two decades, and IHA has done its best to support this. Handing over to Eddie Rich gives the association a new impetus. He brings an impressive set of skills and international experience. I look forward to working closely with him in this exciting transition.”

Eddie Rich's biography

IHA’s incoming CEO, Eddie Rich, has worked on the role of corporates in international development for over 20 years. He has been Deputy Head of the EITI since the international secretariat was established in 2007, including a period as its Executive Director. His responsibilities have included leading on EITI implementation globally and overseeing the organisation’s finance, human resources and communications functions, as well as the organisation of its triennial global conference. He has also published books and articles on governance entrepreneurship and multi-stakeholder governance.

His prior experience includes working as the UK Government Department for International Development (DFID)’s representative to Angola and deputy head in Kenya, and as head of DFID's corporate social responsibility team. He has degrees from the University of Oxford and the University of Westminster.