Dii Desert Energy, a global non profit organization exploring renewable energy potential in the deserts of Northern Africa and the Middle East and also focused on local markets, has announced a new CEO for the organization. Cornelius Matthes will take over from Paul van Son.

Prior, Matthes worked for Deutsche Bank, among others. He was also co-founder and investor in a number of solar start-ups. According to Dii, he was among the first members of Dii’s management team in 2010 and is credited with building its international network of industries and other cooperation partners with a footprint in the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region.

As Dii’s CEO, Cornelius lead the organization to shape its upgraded Desertec 3.0 program under which Dii wants to help MENA nations to become a green power house and trade green electricity as electrical power and hydrogen based molecules globally.

“Cornelius has been a very committed colleague of Paul at Dii Desert Energy, sharing the mission with his indefatigable energy, said ACWA Power CEO Paddy Padmanathan who is part of Dii’s advisory board. “He has our full confidence in his ability to build on this solid foundation to ensure that Dii thrives as a value adding think tank contributing to shaping the energy transition.”

Previously Dii Desert Energy was called Desertec Industrial Initiative when it was launched as an industry initiative in Germany in 2009.