TAQA promotes Kershaw as new CFO to replace retiring Ridlington

Adrian Kershaw will join Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO), replacing Steve Ridlington, who is retiring to pursue other interests.

Kershaw’s appointment is with effect from 15 February 2026. He is currently the Chief Financial Officer of TAQA Water Solutions, a major subsidiary of TAQA Group.

Kershaw has previously been the CFO of another TAQA subsidiary, Al Ain Distribution Company, which is now part of TAQA Distribution. After holding several financial positions in Scotland before moving to the UAE, Kershaw succeeded Ridlington as CFO of Tabreed. He then moved to other senior leadership roles in Emirates Global Aluminum, before joining TAQA in July 2020.

Ridlington led the 2020 merger with AD Power and played a key role supporting Group CEO and Managing Director Jasim Husain Thabet in the growth of the business and establishing TAQA as a leading player in the global utilities industry.

TAQA strengthens leadership with Kershaw

Thabet commented: “I am pleased that we have such a strong pool of talent within TAQA that we can appoint a new world-class CFO from within our own team.

“Adrian knows our business and the region and brings huge personal energy and deep financial experience to the role. I am looking forward to working with him and I know he will build on the positive legacy that Steve has created. As CFO, Adrian will play a key role in delivering the next phase of TAQA’s ambitious 2030 growth strategy.

“I also want to pay tribute to Steve for the outstanding job he has done working with me, the rest of the executive management team and with the board to put TAQA on such a strong financial footing and for his contribution to TAQA’s impressive growth over the past five years.”

Ridlington served as TAQA’s Chief Financial Officer since July 2020. He was the Chief Investment Officer at ADPower before that and previously held positions with BP, TNK-BP, and the National Central Cooling Company (Tabreed).

Since 2020, and to the end of 2024, the utility firm has grown its revenues from AED41.2 billion (US$11.22 billion) to AED55.2 billion (US$15 billion), and net income from AED2.8 billion (US$760 million) to AED7.1 billion (US$1.93 billion).