Leadership Crunch Threatens Booming Renewable Sector

India’s burgeoning renewable energy sector is facing a critical leadership crisis, as a recent study by WalkWater Talent Advisors highlights the challenges posed by a narrow approach to talent acquisition. The executive search firm surveyed 65 organisations and tracked the movement of 204 CXOs over the past three years, uncovering a significant shortage of leadership talent in an industry that is rapidly expanding. 

The study reveals that the renewable energy sector has seen a surge in leadership hires since 2021, with 56 percent of these positions being filled by Chief Operating Officers (COOs), followed by Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) at 47 percent and Chief Business Development Officers (CBDOs) at 45 percent. Despite this influx, the industry's preference for candidates with prior renewable energy experience is creating a bottleneck in the inflow of fresh perspectives and innovative ideas. 

Kunal Girap, Co-Founder and Director of WalkWater Talent Advisors, noted the sector's unprecedented growth, driven by a surge in orders that are fuelling rapid expansion. "However, the talent pool, particularly in leadership, has not kept pace with this growth. This mismatch threatens the sector’s capacity to capitalise on the market’s potential," Girap explained. "Our study highlights the critical leadership shortage and its implications for the sector’s future. The industry needs to adopt a more inclusive approach to talent acquisition, considering candidates from across sectors and investing in targeted leadership development programmes." 

The study also identified critical bottlenecks in niche roles such as land acquisition, design engineering, and policy and regulation. These roles are essential for the successful development and implementation of renewable energy projects, which often face challenges such as regulatory complexities, land unavailability, and grid connectivity. 

The findings underscore the urgent need for the industry to broaden its talent pool and focus on developing leadership from within and outside the sector to ensure sustained growth and innovation in India's renewable energy landscape.