The Director General of the Romanian National Natural Gas Transmission System Operator - Transgaz, Mr. Ion Sterian, is a renowned name in the energy sector in Romania, within the European Union and at international level.
Ion Sterian joined Transgaz in 2007 as representative of the Romanian State in the General Assembly of the Shareholders, and subsequently became the Chairman of the company's Board of Directors in 2013.
A graduate of the Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiești, Ion Sterian specializes in drilling wells and the exploitation of oil and gas fields. He is also graduate of the Faculty of Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and Rural Development of Bucharest. He holds a Master's degree in Management and a Master's degree in Management and Rural Development. He has also completed specialisation courses in International Relations, all of which provide him with the perfect profile to lead a company such as Transgaz.
Mr. Ion Sterian has professional experience and expertise in both the energy field and corporate management, having previously held senior positions in various key institutions in Romania. He was Executive Director of the Technical Division within the Autonomous Administration of the Free Zone of Braila, Executive Director of the Autonomous Administration of State Protocol Patrimony, and also served as Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Regional Development and Tourism of Romania.
Throughout his career, Ion Sterian has developed and perfected his professional knowledge of corporate and security governance, international and diplomatic relations and financial management, all of which have contributed to the efficient, high-performance development of the company he manages. Under Mr. Sterian's close coordination, Transgaz has implemented and continues to implement one of the most ambitious and important national natural gas transmission infrastructure development programs of the last 20 years, with investment projects estimated at over 3.4 billion euros.
During his tenure as Director General of SNTGN Transgaz SA, Ion Sterian has contributed decisively to increasing Romania's energy security through the investments he has completed, such as BRUA - phase 1, a project that allows Romania to operate as a true regional energy hub, the Vadu-T1 National Natural Gas Transmission System expansion project, which now allows natural gas from the Black Sea to reach the National Transmission System, as well as numerous other developments of the National Transmission System, leading to an increase in the citizens’ quality of life and the development of local and national economies.
Moreover, Ion Sterian led Transgaz on the path to becoming the first Romanian multinational company in the energy sector with majority state-owned capital, successfully completing the takeover of Vestmoldtransgaz in the Republic of Moldova and building the Ungheni-Chișinău gas pipeline, an item of energy infrastructure that enhances regional energy independence.
A charismatic, dedicated leader, with a positive and effervescent personality, Ion Sterian has earned the trust and respect of his national and international peers, European and international authorities and institutions, the Romanian media and over 4100 employees.
In recognition of his professional merits and managerial skills, Mr. Ion Sterian has received, both personally and on behalf of Transgaz, numerous awards, diplomas and accolades, is invited to deliver speeches on issues specific to the energy sector, management and corporate governance, negotiation and financing related to complex and large-scale investment projects in national and European energy infrastructure, as well as on other topics related to the prospects for sustainable development and decarbonisation of the energy sector in Romania and Europe, energy diversification in Europe, digitalisation of the energy sector.