Audric, what brought you to Deutsche Windtechnik, and what drives you in your role as Local Operations Manager?
My journey to Deutsche Windtechnik is rooted in over 10 years of experience in the wind energy sector, during which I advanced from field roles to a Field Area Manager position. I have always felt a strong connection to technical teams and operations, and over time, I developed a genuine passion for improving performance, safety, and the quality of work in the field.
I was looking for an environment where I could have a more direct operational impact, while staying close to technicians and the realities of field operations. Deutsche Windtechnik attracted me with its service-oriented approach, a strong focus on preventive maintenance, machine reliability, and continuous performance improvement.
In my current role, I am motivated by the opportunity to structure, support, and develop field teams, creating a clear, efficient, and collaborative working framework. Trust, respect, and team cohesion are crucial for me, especially in demanding operational environments such as wind energy. I also enjoy transforming daily operational challenges into concrete solutions that enhance both performance and team satisfaction.
In your opinion, what are the strengths of Deutsche Windtechnik? How is Deutsche Windtechnik different from OEMs?
Deutsche Windtechnik stands out for its customer-centric and service-oriented mindset. The company is highly agile, with a strong commitment to preventive maintenance and continuous improvement. Unlike OEMs, we focus on the long-term reliability and performance of wind turbines, always striving to deliver tailored solutions that meet our clients' specific needs.
How are you implementing the cluster approach in Belgium, and what does this mean for your teams and customers?
The cluster approach aims to make interventions more efficient, reduce unnecessary travel time, and improve on-site responsiveness. Technicians are trained on the technologies present within their cluster – such as Senvion, Enercon, or Vestas. Each team is responsible for the wind farms assigned to them, with a maximum of two different technologies per team.
This structure maintains a strong focus, reduces Mean Time To Repair (MTTR), and improves work quality by empowering teams and making them accountable for the performance of their assigned wind farms.
What profile of technicians are you looking for, and how are you building local expertise?
I’m looking for technicians with strong technical skills, a solid safety mindset, reliability, and the ability to work independently in the field. Adaptability, problem-solving abilities, and the willingness to learn and work across multiple wind turbine technologies are also essential.
We build local expertise through the cluster approach by assigning teams to specific wind farms and limiting the number of technologies per team. This creates ownership, repetition, and a deeper understanding of the sites and assets. We reinforce this with structured internal and external training, knowledge sharing within teams, and clear accountability for the performance of the assigned wind farms.
You and Luhan both lead operations in the Benelux region. How do you work together?
From day one, Luhan and I really clicked. We have different backgrounds and complementary approaches, but we’re fully aligned on driving performance improvements across teams and operations.
We keep things simple and effective: regular coordination and close daily communication. Every day starts with a short alignment over coffee to ensure smooth coordination and clear priorities. It’s a highly collaborative setup that allows us to ensure consistency across clusters and respond quickly when needed.
What have been the first lessons learned since rolling out the cluster concept in Belgium?
One of the first lessons learned is that strong daily communication is essential for the cluster model to work effectively. We also found that clear ownership of wind farms increases engagement and improves performance and response times. Finally, the transition takes time and requires continuous alignment – especially when moving from a country mindset to a true cluster way of working!
What are your main goals for 2026/27, and what challenges do you see ahead?
Our team is now fully complete, composed of technicians with strong expertise across Vestas, Senvion, and Enercon technologies. This enables us to confidently tackle all types of technical challenges, from high-quality preventive maintenance to complex troubleshooting, such as Enercon generator repairs and other advanced technical issues across these platforms.
Our main objective is to further strengthen preventive maintenance to reduce the need for corrective interventions. We aim to consistently meet and exceed our customers' expectations while responding effectively to their concerns and operational needs.
And finally, how do you spend your time outside of work?
Outside of work, I enjoy a simple and balanced life. I rely a lot on my partner Camille, with whom I recently had a baby boy who is now eight weeks old. This new chapter takes a big place in my life and keeps things very grounded.
We are passionate about travel. Every year we plan a big trip together, and this year we’re heading to Japan, which will be a new challenge with a six-month-old baby.
For hobbies, I enjoy cycling from time to time, but I wouldn’t call myself a big sports guy. I grew up in a generation that enjoyed gaming, so I still like to unwind for an hour on the console.
I also appreciate simple social moments, like having a drink with friends on a terrace or just relaxing casually. And I have to admit, I’m a big food lover – especially brunch with a good coffee, which is one of my favourite ways to enjoy a weekend morning.
