Maxim Timchenko is Chief Executive of DTEK Group, having led the company since its foundation in 2005. Under his leadership, DTEK has grown to become Ukraine’s largest private energy group, with a presence in eight European countries.

Timchenko has played a critical role in preserving power supplies to millions of Ukrainians in the face of russian attacks after 2014. Since full-scale war began in 2022, Timchenko has directed the rebuilding of destroyed energy infrastructure and fast-tracked new, more resilient energy assets in pursuit of greater energy security. DTEK has spent over €1.9 billion on repairs and investments to become the country’s biggest wartime investor. New energy assets include the construction of Ukraine’s largest windfarm and Eastern Europe’s biggest battery storage project.

A leading proponent of Ukraine’s integration into Europe’s energy system, he has long championed deeper cross-border energy connections, market reforms at home and partnerships with international businesses to channel foreign investment towards Ukraine.

In 2025, TIME named Timchenko on its TIME100 Climate list, recognising him as one of the world’s 100 most influential leaders driving business climate action.
Timchenko is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Electricity Governors Community and serves on the supervisory boards of UN Global Compact Network Ukraine and the American University Kyiv. He was named Leader of the Year at the 2024 Global Good Awards, is a Top Voice on LinkedIn and was named one of Ukraine’s 10 most influential CEOs by Forbes Ukraine.

Timchenko holds a degree in Production Management from the Donetsk State Academy of Management and studied Economic and Social Studies at the University of Manchester, England. He began his career at PwC in 1999, rising to the position of senior auditor before joining Ukraine’s SCM Group in 2002, from where he founded DTEK 20 years ago.