We@Wilo with Cebastien Foumouo-Tsakou

It’s a sunny day, the sky is clear, and the view over the Smart Factory rooftops is stunning. Between the gleaming photovoltaic panels stands Greta Körner, host of the We@Wilo series, speaking with a guest who quite literally lives and breathes energy: Cebastien Foumouou-Tsakou.

For more than 13 years, Cebastien has been driving the topics of energy management and digital solutions in facility management at Wilo. His work isn’t just about numbers, processes, and efficiency – it’s about a clear vision: making sustainability tangible within the company and integrating it into everyday life.

In this conversation, Cebastien shares how he grew from a working student to a key figure in Wilo’s energy and sustainability strategy, why teamwork is crucial to his success, and how energy plays an important role in his private life as well.

An inspiring interview about responsibility, passion, and the belief that sustainable action always begins with oneself.

Welcome, Cebastien – it’s great to have you here! Let’s start off easy: who are you, and what do you do at Wilo?

Hi Greta, thanks for having me! I’ve been with Wilo for 13 years now and I’m responsible for Energy Management as well as Digital Solutions in Facility Management.

What exactly are your main responsibilities in this area?

If you ask our management, you’ll hear two key goals: rudcing energy costs and becoming more sustainable.

That means digitizing our sustainability processes on one hand, and implementing targeted energy efficiency measures on the other - to significantly reduce both our energy consumption and our CO₂ emissions.

Such an important and fascinating topic – especially today! Can you tell us how you came into this position?

I started at Wilo as a student and wrote my master’s thesis on the development of the Wilo-Stratos MAXO.

Afterwards, I began as an engineer in building automation, and soon after, energy management became part of my role as well. Both areas are closely connected – by automating and optimizing our buildings, we can make them greener and reduce our energy costs at the same time.

Since then, we’ve been working in a certified and systematic way on energy-saving measures and sustainability strategies – and I truly enjoy it.

From student to leadership position, impressive! What is it that excites you most about your field?

Without a doubt, it’s teamwork. Energy management is definitely not a one-man show. We have a strong and dedicated team working together toward our company goals.

And privately, I live by the same principles. At home, we also have our little energy projects – my kids know how important it is to save water, electricity, and gas. What I practice at work, I apply in my personal life too.

It really sounds like sustainability is woven through every part of your life. How would you describe teamwork at Wilo, also across departments?

We work according to Wilo’s three pillars of sustainability, and for us, Connecting is a key – building networks within the company.

All departments are involved; we regularly upskill ourselves and integrate new digital features. What’s great is that we have full support from the Executive Board – whether in terms of resources, staffing, or budget.

You can really see how much has been invested over the past few years, and the results are clear.

What makes Wilo such a special employer for you? Why have you stayed all these years?

That’s easy: Wilo is a great employer.

Many of my university friends have moved to other cities, but I’ve stayed, because Wilo offers everything that defines a modern workplace: the Wilopark, a sustainable infrastructure, a modern canteen, efficient workspaces, and an environment where you can truly make a difference.

Here, I can share my ideas and actually see them come to life. That’s what motivates me every day.

You can really tell how passionate you are! Finally, a more personal question – how do you recharge your own energy in your free time?

(Laughs) Good question – we save a lot of energy here, but the energy I have left, I take home to my kids.

I spend a lot of time with them. We go for walks, play football, and I love sports in general. Whether it’s padel or tennis, that’s my perfect balance.

Maybe one day we’ll even have a tennis or padel court here at Wilopark, who knows?

That’s a great thought! Thank you, Cebastien, for sharing your insights – both about your work and your personal life.