16 Renewable Energy Recruiters Transforming the Industry
Meet the best recruiters shaping the renewable energy landscape, recognized for their ability to place top-tier professionals in key roles. ↓
The renewable energy sector has seen rapid growth and transformation, driven by innovative technologies and an increasing demand for sustainability. At the heart of this shift are the top recruiters who are helping shape the future by connecting visionary leaders with groundbreaking opportunities in clean energy. From solar to wind, energy storage to emerging technologies, these 16 renewable energy recruiters have played a key role in sourcing the talent that powers this global transition.
Below is a curated and ranked list of these influential professionals, known for their expertise and impact in the renewable energy industry.
- William Liuzza
- Anjela Mangrum
- Jon Semingson
- Catherine McLean
- Carina Whitham
- Travis Hann
- Richard Lock
- David Cowan
- Shelly Fust
- Daniel Smart
- David Hunt
- Tom Hopkinson
- Andy Cartland
- Jenny Gladman
- Jim Denning
- Dan McCarthy
Below we provide more detailed profiles of each recruiter.
William Liuzza
Nationality: American
Founder and CEO of EnergeiaWorks, one of North America’s premier renewable energy executive search firms. Liuzza has over 25 years of recruiting experience and is regarded as one of the most successful recruiters in the renewable energy sector.
He established EnergeiaWorks in 2010 to meet the growing demand for specialized clean tech and renewable energy talent. Based in New York, Liuzza is a thought leader on clean energy hiring trends and frequently speaks at industry events. He also created the “Renewables UnWind” networking series to connect professionals in the sustainable energy community.
- LinkedIn: William Liuzza
Anjela Mangrum
Nationality: American
Founder and President of Mangrum Career Solutions (Ohio, USA). Mangrum leads a boutique search firm specializing in operations and supply chain leadership for renewable energy manufacturing.
With 15+ years in recruiting, she has earned a reputation for finding “visionary leaders” for wind turbine, solar panel, and battery manufacturing companies. Mangrum’s firm (founded 2009) has a strong track record in filling mid-to-executive roles in clean energy production and storage businesses. She is a hands-on recruiter dedicated to matching top talent with companies driving the energy transition.
- LinkedIn: Anjela Mangrum
Jon Semingson
Nationality: American
President and Managing Partner of Peak Demand (California), a nationally recognized executive search firm focused exclusively on renewable energy.
Semingson is known for his deep expertise in solar energy recruitment and is a member of the Pinnacle Society (an elite recruiters association). With over a decade of experience, he has placed top talent in solar, energy storage, and related clean tech ventures. Semingson shares hiring advice through blog videos (like “How Not to Use a Recruiter”) and is a go-to recruiter for many growing solar companies.
- LinkedIn: Jon Semingson
- X (Twitter): @JonSemingson
Catherine McLean
Nationality: American
Diversity and inclusion are not just buzzwords for us at Dylan Green—they are core principles that guide how we recruit the talent needed to drive a sustainable future in energy.
Founder and CEO of Dylan Green, a clean energy recruitment agency based in Washington, D.C. McLean has been recruiting in the clean energy sector since 2011 and previously founded a successful energy recruitment firm in the UK.
She is passionate about diversity and inclusion in renewable energy hiring, and her leadership earned her recognition as a Champion of Diversity in the industry. McLean’s firm focuses on placing commercial and executive talent in solar, wind, storage, and climate tech companies. She frequently discusses cleantech hiring trends on podcasts and industry panels.
- LinkedIn: Catherine McLean
Carina Whitham
Nationality: American
Founder and President of Whitham Group Executive Search, headquartered in California. Whitham started the firm in 2010, making it one of the first U.S. recruiting firms dedicated to renewable energy executives.
She has over a decade of experience recruiting leaders in solar, wind, biofuels, and emerging clean technologies. Whitham is noted for her broad network and even maintains an active social media presence (including an Instagram titled “Renewable Energy Recruiters”). Under her leadership, Whitham Group has placed numerous C-level and VP-level candidates in high-growth green energy companies.
- LinkedIn: Carina Whitham
Travis Hann
Nationality: Canadian
Co-founding Partner of Pender & Howe Executive Search, a boutique firm operating across the U.S. and Canada. Based in Toronto, Hann specializes in C-suite and board placements for companies in renewable energy, sustainable infrastructure, and cleantech.
He is known for a consultative approach and has partnered with investors and CEOs to fill complex leadership roles. Pender & Howe (founded 2019) has gained a strong reputation for its bespoke, high-touch service in the green energy sector. Hann’s North American focus and precision in search have made him a trusted advisor to energy transition pioneers.
- LinkedIn: Travis Hann
Richard Lock
Nationality: Canadian
Founder of Lock Search Group, Canada’s leading independent search firm. Lock founded the firm in 1983 and expanded into renewable energy recruitment as the sector grew.
Under his leadership, Lock Search Group established a dedicated practice for sustainable energy technologies, helping staff wind, solar, and clean technology projects across Canada. Although Richard Lock is now Chairman (after decades as President), he remains a prominent figure in recruiting. His firm’s client-centric ethos and deep talent network reflect Lock’s legacy as a pioneer of specialized recruitment in the Canadian renewable sector.
- LinkedIn: Richard Lock
David Cowan
Nationality: American
Global Sector Leader at Spencer Stuart for Energy, with a focus on energy transition technologies and infrastructure. Based in New York, Cowan leads Spencer Stuart’s global renewable energy executive search efforts, helping major companies and utilities adapt to cleaner energy models.
He has led searches for senior executives in offshore wind, solar development, and new energy storage ventures. Cowan’s insight was featured in Spencer Stuart’s thought leadership on how oil & gas firms pivot to renewables. His strategic view of talent across conventional and renewable energy makes him one of the top headhunters in guiding organizations through the green transition.
- LinkedIn: David Cowan
Shelly Fust
Nationality: American
Senior Client Partner at Korn Ferry (Los Angeles) and Global Co-Lead of Korn Ferry’s Sustainability & ESG Practice. Fust heads Korn Ferry’s Renewable Energy & Utilities executive search practice, bringing over 20 years of experience in placing leaders in clean power and sustainability roles.
She has advised utilities, solar and wind developers, and energy investors on recruiting CEOs, CTOs, and board directors who can drive sustainable agendas. Shelly Fust is also heavily involved in ESG leadership searches, reflecting the increasing convergence of corporate sustainability and renewable energy strategy. Her prominence at a top global search firm underscores her influence in the clean energy talent landscape.
- LinkedIn: Shelly Fust
Daniel Smart
Nationality: British
CEO and founder of The Green Recruitment Company (Green Group), based in London. Dan Smart founded the firm in 2010 with a vision to become the leading provider of renewable energy and clean tech talent worldwide.
He has since grown Green Recruitment Co. into a global operation with hubs in Europe, Asia, and North America. Smart’s team covers solar, wind, energy storage, and emerging low-carbon technologies, placing roles from mid-level engineers to C-suite executives. Under his leadership, the company achieved certified B Corp status for its commitment to sustainability. Dan Smart is frequently quoted on green employment trends and continues to expand his firm’s reach across new clean energy markets.
- LinkedIn: Daniel Smart
David Hunt
Nationality: British
Founder and CEO of Hyperion Executive Search (UK), a global headhunting firm specializing exclusively in cleantech and renewable energy.
Hunt founded Hyperion in 2014 to accelerate the growth of clean energy startups by finding them top-tier talent. Based in Liverpool, he has become a thought leader in Europe’s cleantech scene, even hosting the “Leaders in Cleantech” podcast. Hunt and his team have placed executives in industries ranging from energy storage and electric vehicles to solar and hydrogen tech. His drive to scale the clean energy workforce has been profiled in Sifted and other outlets, highlighting how he “set up Hyperion… specialising in the cleantech space”.
- LinkedIn: David Hunt
Tom Hopkinson
Nationality: British
Founder and former CEO of Taylor Hopkinson (UK), one of the world’s largest pure-play renewable energy recruitment firms. Tom Hopkinson started the Glasgow-based firm in 2009 to supply talent to the world’s biggest wind and solar farm developers.
He grew Taylor Hopkinson into a global leader in renewables staffing (now part of Brunel), with offices spanning Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Hopkinson’s own focus has been on retained executive searches – he has personally handled senior mandates for offshore wind, solar, and renewable investment companies. After 15 years as CEO, he remains an active board advisor and industry voice, advocating for skills development and diversity in the renewables sector.
- LinkedIn: Tom Hopkinson
Andy Cartland
Nationality: British
Founder and Chief Impact Officer of Acre (UK), a global sustainability and energy recruitment firm. Cartland founded Acre in 2003, making it one of the first specialist recruitment consultancies in sustainability, environment, and energy.
Under his leadership, Acre expanded across Europe, North America, and Asia, placing thousands of professionals in renewable energy companies, sustainable finance, and climate-tech roles. Andy Cartland is known for championing the notion of “business as a force for good” – Acre itself is a Certified B Corp. With over 20 years in this field, he advises energy companies on building teams that drive significant social and environmental impact.
- LinkedIn: Andy Cartland
Jenny Gladman
Nationality: British
Co-founder of Brightsmith Group (UK), a cleantech and energy transition search firm. Gladman is a prominent recruiter and podcast host who advocates for women in clean energy and recruitment.
Since co-founding Brightsmith in 2019, she has focused on hiring for cutting-edge sectors like electric vehicles, battery technology, and clean energy start-ups. Based in London, Jenny Gladman also hosts “The Brightsmith Podcast” discussing talent and diversity in cleantech. Her engaging public presence and passion for sustainability have made her a recognized figure in European renewable energy recruitment circles.
- LinkedIn: Jenny Gladman
Jim Denning
Nationality: American
CEO of LHi Group, the parent company of Piper Maddox, a fast-growing clean energy staffing brand in both the USA and Europe. Based in London, Jim Denning has led LHi’s global expansion for over a decade and has made Piper Maddox (founded 2015) a prominent name in renewable energy recruitment.
Under his leadership, Piper Maddox now has offices in New York, Austin, London, and beyond, exclusively focused on placing talent in renewables and energy storage. Denning is known for cultivating a purpose-driven company culture (“difference-makers”) and frequently speaks on recruitment strategy. His role as CEO of a Forbes-recognized recruiting firm positions him as a key influencer in clean energy hiring internationally.
- LinkedIn: Jim Denning
Dan McCarthy
Nationality: American
Founder and CEO of One Search (UK/USA), an executive search firm specializing in infrastructure and energy finance. McCarthy founded One Search in London in 2006, when renewable infrastructure investment was still nascent.
Now based in New York as well, he has built One Search into a transatlantic leader in placing finance professionals in renewable energy and clean infrastructure projects. Dan McCarthy is especially known for recruiting investment directors and CFOs for green infrastructure funds, solar/wind developers, and energy transition investors. He often shares market insights (e.g. via eFinancialCareers and industry panels) about careers in renewable energy finance.
- LinkedIn: Dan McCarthy
Sum Up
These top recruiters have played a pivotal role in transforming the renewable energy industry by expertly sourcing high-level talent, driving technological advancements, and fostering growth in emerging energy markets. However, direct collaboration with these leaders can often be challenging due to their high demand and premium rates.
An effective alternative is partnering with EchoGlobal, where our specialized industry knowledge and expansive global network allow us to efficiently connect you with the ideal renewable energy talent to accelerate your growth.
Note: We’ve dedicated significant time and effort to creating and verifying this curated list of top professionals. However, if you believe a correction or addition is needed, feel free to reach out. We’ll gladly review and update the page.
Lou Reverchuk