The long-standing chief executives of Portuguese utility EDP and its subsidiary EDP Renewables (EDPR) have officially resigned, five months after being suspended in the wake of a corruption scandal.
António Mexia had been the group’s CEO since 2006, while his colleague João Manso Neto had led EDPR since 2012.
The pair were suspended by a judge in early July at the request of police investigating alleged bribery involving former economy minister Manuel Pinho. Both deny any wrongdoing.
Interim chief executive Miguel Stilwell de Andrade is expected take the helm on a full-time basis, and preside over the appointment of a new executive board in January.
Rui Teixeira has been interim boss of EDPR since July, although he appeared at the WindEnergy Hamburg digital event on Tuesday with the title of chief executive.
The charismatic Mexia denied any wrongdoing in his resignation letter, writing: “There are difficult decisions in life and this is certainly the most difficult in my professional life, above all because it results from a context of incomprehensible injustice.
“All our actions over the years have sought to protect the interests of EDP and have been in strict compliance with our legal duties and obligations to our stakeholders and to the Portuguese state at the time when it was our principal shareholder.”
He added that he expects the Lisbon Court of Appeal to reverse the suspension of duties. The police investigation continues.
