Hydrogen Council announces new Board composition; welcomes Baker Hughes

BRUSSELS, January 20, 2026 – The Hydrogen Council, the world’s largest and only CEO-led hydrogen alliance, is pleased to announce Baker Hughes as its newest board member and to confirm the re-election of Johnson Matthey, Sasol, Sinopec and Topsoe for a new mandate.

The new board composition, effective January 1, 2026, reflects the Hydrogen Council’s continued evolution as the sector enters its next phase of delivery. The Board is represented at the highest level by global CEOs committed to providing strategic leadership and accelerating hydrogen deployment at scale.

Baker Hughes, which joined the Hydrogen Council in 2020, brings deep expertise across energy technology, infrastructure and industrial solutions. Together with re-elected board members Johnson Matthey, Sasol, Sinopec, and Topsoe, and board members whose mandates continue – Air Liquide, Cummins, Hyundai Motor Group, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Linde, Masdar, Siemens Energy, Toyota Motor Corporation, Valterra Platinum, and Yara Clean Ammonia – the 15-member Board combines extensive industry experience, geographic and sector diversity as well as long-standing commitment to hydrogen. The Board will lead the global industry as it focuses on unlocking demand through policy action, putting in place pragmatic regulations, building out infrastructure, aligning on global standards, and fostering strong public-private partnerships[1].

Jaehoon Chang, Vice Chair of Hyundai Motor Group and Co-Chair of the Hydrogen Council, said: “We are delighted to welcome Baker Hughes to the Board and congratulate re-elected companies on their new mandates. We stand at a pivotal moment for the scale-up of the hydrogen industry. The decisions and actions we take now will shape both its speed and scale. By working closely with our new Co-Chair François Jackow, the Board and our entire membership, we will strengthen collaboration across the value chain and drive impact through real‑world hydrogen deployment.”

François Jackow, CEO of Air Liquide and Co-Chair of the Hydrogen Council, said: “As we enter this new mandate, our collective mission is clear: Lead, Build, and Deliver. The Hydrogen Council is committed to acting as a strategic advisory body for governments, advocating for pragmatic market activation strategies to unlock demand. Despite sometimes turbulent winds, hydrogen remains a key enabler of the low-carbon economy, an accelerator of energy sovereignty and a catalyst of economic prosperity.”

Lorenzo Simonelli, Chairman and CEO of Baker Hughes, said: “Hydrogen is a versatile, clean energy vector that we firmly believe has the potential to drive meaningful industrial outcomes, from fostering economic growth to reducing emissions and transforming power generation. Baker Hughes is honored to continue supporting and contributing to the Hydrogen Council’s mission in a new capacity on the Board.” 

Ivana Jemelkova, CEO of the Hydrogen Council, said: “Capital commitments to clean hydrogen have grown ten times in the past five years, and strong projects are moving forward.With its combined expertise and shared commitment, the Hydrogen Council Board is uniquely positioned to guide the next chapter of the industry’s growth, address challenges and ensure hydrogen delivers significant value for both industry and society.”

[1] Hydrogen 2030: Lead.Build.Deliver., a joint Communiqué launched at the Hydrogen Council’s 2025 Global CEO Summit, sets out these concrete steps needed to accelerate global deployment within this decade.