Aligning strategy and structure in the energy sector

As the energy sector faces mounting pressure to evolve, established providers must strike a delicate balance between honoring their legacy and remaining future-ready. This case study explores how a European energy company partnered with Eraneos to realign its structure and strategy, ensuring both operational excellence and continued public trust in a fast-changing industry.

The challenge

In today’s business landscape, scale is no longer a guarantee for success. For established companies with strong legacies, long-term success depends on their ability to adapt to a changing world – while honoring the values that made them successful in the first place. This is especially relevant in sectors like energy and utilities, where companies are not only providers of critical infrastructure but also stewards of public trust. Adapting such organizations requires care, clarity, and a structure that enables both operational performance and long-term continuity.

A European energy provider faced this challenge. With strong values and a deeply rooted local presence driving decades of success, the company had reached a point where its existing setup no longer provided enough clarity or responsiveness. The task was not to reinvent the business, but to realign structure with strategy, and governance with the company’s distinct ways of working.

The approach

Recognizing that a standard framework would not suffice, Eraneos worked closely with the client to design an improved operating model tailored to the company’s strategy and unique organizational culture. We extensively reviewed the current model, defined the optimal model and outlined a clear roadmap to achieve it. Each step of the project was shaped not only by corporate priorities but also by the client’s way of working. Our methods, terminology, and engagement style all embraced the company culture to preserve it and ensure buy-in, alignment, and long-term relevance.

The result

Together with the client, we developed a comprehensive and fully tailored operating model blueprint – delivered as a practical, implementation-ready playbook. The first phase of the transformation is now underway, and Eraneos continues to support in activating the improved model. With this foundation in place, our client is positioned to strengthen execution and autonomy, increase strategic clarity, and remain a leading force in Europe’s energy sector.