Another core veteran from Siemens Gamesa has switched sides to its industry rival.

On June 1, Martin La Cour Søborg, a long-serving executive with nine years at Siemens Gamesa, announced his official appointment at Vestas via LinkedIn as Senior Vice President of Nacelle Manufacturing. Previously Global Head of Offshore Equipment and Operations at Siemens Gamesa, he was a pivotal figure overseeing the company’s supply chain and production capacity.

In his departure post, he described Vestas as a respected “fierce competitor” he has admired for years, a remark signaling shifting industry dynamics as a key long-serving leader abandons his former employer for its top rival.

Henrik Andersen, CEO of Vestas, personally welcomed him with best wishes in the comment section, highlighting fierce competition for top talent across the sector.

Following GE Vernova’s exit from Europe’s offshore wind market and limited large-scale penetration by Chinese OEMs, Vestas and Siemens Gamesa have formed a de facto duopoly in Europe’s offshore wind turbine space. The departure of a senior manufacturing lead hands critical production expertise and technical know-how straight to Vestas.

This talent outflow is not an isolated case. Earlier this year, another Siemens Gamesa executive Peter Wolf joined leading Chinese turbine maker Mingyang Smart Energy as Director of European Transportation & Installation, strengthening Mingyang’s senior management setup in Europe.

The successive departures of core executives lay bare Siemens Gamesa’s ongoing operational challenges. For Vestas, the hire brings not only an experienced industry leader but also proven expertise spanning offshore wind manufacturing, supply chain governance and plant operation.

When a rival’s top manufacturing executive switches to oversee production at its competitor, the losing side stands to lose far more than individual managers.