Tina Hinz to Lead Uniper’s Legal and Compliance Functions as General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer
Uniper has announced the appointment of Tina Hinz as its new General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer, effective June 1, 2026. In her new role, Hinz will report directly to Chief Executive Officer Michael Lewis and will become responsible for overseeing the company’s legal affairs and compliance framework during a period of significant transformation for the energy company.
Hinz succeeds Marc Merrill, who will be leaving Uniper to pursue a new professional opportunity outside the organization. The appointment marks an important leadership transition within the company as it continues to navigate evolving energy markets, regulatory requirements, and its long-term strategic objectives.
With nearly a decade of experience at Uniper and a legal career spanning international law firms and major corporate transactions, Hinz brings extensive expertise in corporate law, financing, compliance, and energy-sector regulation. Her appointment reflects the company’s confidence in her ability to support Uniper’s strategic priorities while maintaining a strong governance and compliance culture.
Strong Legal Foundation and International Experience
Tina Hinz studied law at the Universities of Bayreuth and Göttingen, building a strong academic foundation that would later support a distinguished legal career. Following her studies, she joined the international law firm Linklaters, where she worked from 2007 to 2016.
During her tenure at Linklaters, Hinz specialized in complex transactions involving Banking & Capital Markets as well as Corporate and Mergers & Acquisitions. Her work took her to major financial and legal centers including Frankfurt, London, and Düsseldorf, where she gained valuable experience advising clients on sophisticated financing arrangements, corporate restructurings, and strategic transactions.
This international exposure provided her with a broad understanding of financial markets, corporate governance, and cross-border legal frameworks, skills that would later prove highly valuable in the energy sector.
A Decade of Leadership at Uniper
Since joining Uniper’s Legal and Compliance Department in 2016, Hinz has held a variety of senior positions with increasing levels of responsibility. Throughout her time with the company, she has been closely involved in some of the most significant projects and transactions undertaken by Uniper.
One of her notable achievements was helping establish Uniper’s first €3 billion corporate financing framework. This initiative provided the company with a critical financial foundation and demonstrated her capability in managing complex legal and financial structures.
Hinz also played a leading legal role in the financing arrangements for the Nord Stream 2 project, one of Europe’s most widely discussed energy infrastructure developments. In addition, she provided legal leadership for the Wilhelmshaven LNG terminal project, a key component of Germany’s efforts to strengthen energy security and diversify energy supply sources.
Her involvement in these large-scale projects showcased her ability to navigate intricate regulatory environments while balancing commercial objectives and stakeholder interests.
Expertise in Energy Trading Compliance
Beyond major infrastructure and financing initiatives, Hinz has developed deep expertise in energy trading and regulatory compliance.
For several years, she was responsible for managing the legal teams supporting gas, power, and coal trading operations, as well as overseeing the company’s trading compliance function. In these roles, she ensured that Uniper’s trading activities remained aligned with increasingly complex energy market regulations and compliance requirements.
The energy trading sector operates under strict regulatory scrutiny, with companies required to comply with a broad range of European and international market rules. Hinz’s leadership helped strengthen Uniper’s compliance framework and ensure adherence to evolving regulatory standards.
Her combination of legal knowledge and practical understanding of energy markets has been recognized as a key strength throughout her career at the company.
Critical Role During the 2022 Energy Crisis
One of the defining periods of Hinz’s career at Uniper came during the unprecedented energy crisis that affected Europe in 2022.
As energy markets experienced extreme volatility and supply disruptions, Uniper faced significant financial and operational challenges. During this period, Hinz became a central figure in the company’s stabilization efforts.
She played an important role in securing financing arrangements through KfW, Germany’s state-owned development bank, helping provide critical liquidity support during a highly uncertain market environment. In addition, she was heavily involved in negotiations with Fortum and the German federal government, discussions that were essential to ensuring the company’s continued stability and long-term viability.
The successful execution of these complex negotiations required not only legal expertise but also strategic judgment, stakeholder management skills, and a deep understanding of the broader energy landscape.
Her contributions during this challenging period further reinforced her reputation as one of Uniper’s most trusted legal and strategic leaders.
Driving Regulatory Compliance Across the Group
Since 2023, Hinz has led the implementation of key European Union regulatory requirements across the entire Uniper Group.
This work has been particularly important as the company continues its stabilization efforts and works toward meeting obligations established under various agreements and regulatory frameworks. Her leadership has helped ensure that Uniper remains fully compliant with critical legal and regulatory requirements while maintaining operational flexibility and strategic focus.
The role has required close coordination across business units, legal teams, compliance functions, and external stakeholders. Through this effort, Hinz has demonstrated an ability to translate complex regulatory obligations into practical business processes that support the company’s broader objectives.
Her track record highlights a unique combination of technical legal expertise, compliance leadership, and business understanding that will be valuable in her new executive position.
Looking Ahead to a New Chapter
As General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer, Hinz will assume responsibility for guiding Uniper’s legal and compliance strategy at a time when the company is focused on long-term growth, operational resilience, and eventual reprivatization.
The legal and compliance functions are expected to play a central role in supporting these ambitions, ensuring that strategic initiatives are executed within robust governance frameworks while navigating increasingly complex regulatory environments.
Commenting on her appointment, Hinz expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity to lead the organization’s legal and compliance teams during this important stage of the company’s development.
She stated that her focus will be on building a future-ready Legal and Compliance function capable of actively supporting Uniper’s strategic goals and reprivatization efforts. She emphasized her confidence in the team’s ability to provide the legal and compliance foundation necessary to achieve the company’s ambitions and thanked the Executive Board for its trust and support.
Her appointment signals continuity within Uniper’s leadership while also reflecting the company’s commitment to strengthening governance, compliance, and strategic execution as it prepares for the next phase of its corporate journey.
Source Link: https://www.uniper.energy/
