CEO, Rocky Mountain Institute
Jules Kortenhorst is the Chief Executive Officer of Rocky Mountain Institute. He is a recognized leader on global energy issues and climate change. His background spans business, government, entrepreneurial, and nonprofit leadership.
Since 1982, Rocky Mountain Institute has advanced market-based solutions that transform global energy use to create a clean, prosperous and secure future. An independent, nonprofit think-and-do tank, RMI engages with businesses, communities and institutions to accelerate and scale replicable solutions that drive the cost-effective shift from fossil fuels to efficiency and renewables.
Prior to RMI, Jules was the founding CEO of the European Climate Foundation, the largest philanthropic organization dedicated to policy development and advocacy on climate change in Europe. Before launching ECF, he served as a member of the Dutch parliament for the Christian Democratic Party.
During the first 20 years of his career, Jules worked in the business world. He was the CEO for International Operations of ClientLogic Corporation, a global leader in outsourced customer relationship management solutions. He worked for almost 10 years for Royal Dutch / Shell, among others as managing director of Shell Bulgaria, and he began his career as an analyst at McKinsey & Co.
Jules currently serves on the Energy Transition Commission, and is the co-chair of the WEF Future Council on Energy. He is also a non-executive board member of the Energy Web Foundation and of Solidia Technologies Inc, and an advisory board member of Land Life Company. Jules is married to Searl Vetter and has four children.
• Masters of Business Administration, Harvard Business School, Baker Scholar
• Masters in Economics, Erasmus University, Netherlands
Strategic Panel Session: Taking Responsibility, Accepting Accountability
Should emissions reductions ultimately be driven by producers & suppliers or the commercial & domestic consumers of energy?