Uniper Announces Birgit Korte as New Group Spokesperson and Communications Head
German energy company Uniper has announced the appointment of Birgit Korte as its new Head of External Communication and Group Spokesperson, marking an important leadership transition within the company’s communications and public affairs organization. Korte is scheduled to assume her new responsibilities in Düsseldorf in early June 2026 and will report directly to Florian Dötterl, Executive Vice President Corporate Communication & Governmental Relations at Uniper.
The appointment comes at a significant time for Uniper as the company continues to navigate Europe’s rapidly evolving energy landscape while strengthening its position in the continent’s energy transition. With extensive experience in political communications and media relations at both state and federal levels in Germany, Korte is expected to bring a strong strategic perspective to the company’s communication activities.
Korte joins Uniper after serving in the press office of Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy in Berlin. Most recently, she acted as spokesperson to Federal Minister Katherina Reiche, where she was involved in communicating major policy initiatives and economic developments related to Germany’s energy and industrial sectors. Her transition from government communications into the corporate energy sector reflects the increasing intersection between public policy, energy security, and corporate transformation in Europe.
At Uniper, Korte will oversee external communications and serve as the company’s primary spokesperson during a period of continued change across the energy industry. Her responsibilities are expected to include media relations, strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, and public positioning for the company as it advances its long-term business and sustainability goals.
Florian Dötterl welcomed the appointment and emphasized the value of Korte’s experience and communications expertise for the company’s future direction. According to Dötterl, Korte combines deep knowledge of the media landscape with a strong understanding of the energy industry gained through her previous professional roles.
He stated that her experience in both German and international media environments, combined with her background in government communications, makes her particularly well suited for Uniper’s evolving communications needs. Dötterl also described her as an outstanding communications expert whose leadership will strengthen the Politics and Communication division during an important phase for the company.
Korte’s career path reflects a steady progression through some of Germany’s most prominent public-sector communication roles. She studied media studies in Siegen and Bonn, where she earned a Master of Arts degree in 2014. Following her academic studies, she worked as a freelance journalist, gaining firsthand experience in reporting and media production before moving into government communications.
Her public-sector career began in 2016 when she joined the press office of the State Chancellery of North Rhine-Westphalia. In this role, she supported communications activities for one of Germany’s most economically significant federal states. Her work involved managing media relations, political messaging, and public information activities within the state government.
Over the following years, Korte continued to advance within the organization. In 2020, she was appointed Deputy Head of the Press Office, taking on broader leadership and strategic responsibilities. Two years later, in 2022, she became Head of the Press Office and Editor-in-Chief of the State Chancellery, a role that further expanded her influence within governmental communications.
Her responsibilities in these positions included overseeing media strategy, coordinating communication efforts across departments, and managing responses to major political and economic developments affecting the region. North Rhine-Westphalia, as one of Germany’s leading industrial and energy regions, provided Korte with valuable exposure to issues related to industrial policy, infrastructure, energy markets, and economic transformation.
In October 2025, Korte moved to the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy in Berlin. Her transition to the federal level represented another important milestone in her career, placing her at the center of Germany’s national economic and energy policy communications.
As spokesperson to Federal Minister Katherina Reiche, Korte worked on communicating complex policy initiatives tied to energy security, industrial competitiveness, and Germany’s broader energy transition agenda. The role required balancing political messaging with public transparency while managing communications during a period of significant transformation in European energy markets.
Her move to Uniper highlights the growing importance of experienced communications leadership within the energy industry. Energy companies across Europe are increasingly required to communicate not only operational and financial performance, but also their role in decarbonization, energy security, infrastructure investment, and geopolitical stability.
Uniper occupies a particularly important position within Europe’s energy sector. The company plays a major role in ensuring secure energy supply in Germany and across Europe while simultaneously investing in cleaner energy technologies and transition strategies. As governments, businesses, and consumers continue to focus on energy affordability, sustainability, and resilience, communications leadership has become an increasingly strategic function for major energy companies.
Korte acknowledged this responsibility in comments regarding her appointment. She emphasized that Uniper stands at the center of Europe’s energy transition and carries significant responsibility for maintaining secure energy supplies. She also expressed enthusiasm about joining the company after spending a decade in political communications.
According to Korte, the move represents an exciting change in perspective and an opportunity to help shape Uniper’s public role through communications. She highlighted the company’s importance within the energy sector and indicated that she looks forward to supporting its future direction during a transformative period for the industry.
The leadership transition also marks the conclusion of a long chapter for Georg Oppermann, who is retiring after 26 years in the energy industry. Oppermann has served as a prominent communications representative for Uniper and has played a key role in managing the company’s public profile during both stable and challenging periods for the sector.
Dötterl praised Oppermann’s contributions, noting that he represented Uniper exceptionally well in both media and public settings, including during difficult times for the energy industry. He also thanked Oppermann for his years of service and wished him success and happiness in the next phase of his life following retirement.
The appointment of Korte underscores Uniper’s continued focus on strengthening its leadership capabilities as the company adapts to the changing dynamics of the global energy market. Communication strategies have become increasingly important for energy companies as they engage with policymakers, investors, customers, employees, and the public on issues ranging from sustainability and climate goals to infrastructure development and energy affordability.
With her background in journalism, regional government communications, and federal-level energy policy communications, Korte brings a combination of media expertise and sector familiarity that aligns closely with the challenges facing modern energy companies.
Her appointment also reflects the increasingly close relationship between government policy and corporate strategy within the European energy sector. As energy transition policies continue to reshape markets and investment priorities, companies like Uniper are seeking leaders who understand both the political environment and the communications demands of large-scale industrial transformation.
As Korte prepares to begin her new role in Düsseldorf, industry observers will likely view her appointment as part of Uniper’s broader effort to position itself effectively within Europe’s changing energy landscape. With energy security, sustainability, and economic competitiveness remaining central topics across the continent, communications leadership will continue to play a critical role in shaping how companies engage with the public and key stakeholders.
Her arrival at Uniper therefore represents not only a personnel change, but also a strategic move aimed at reinforcing the company’s public engagement and communications capabilities during a pivotal period for the European energy industry.
Source Link: https://www.uniper.energy/
