Mechthild has been appointed Deputy Director General of DG ENER in October 2021. Previously, she was Director for Sustainability, Technology and Outlooks at the International Energy Agency for three years. Before her time at the IEA, she held various positions at DG ENER (2010 – 2018) and DG GROWTH (2005 – 2010). From 1999 – 2004, she served in the Cabinet of Erkki Liikanen, European Commissioner for Enterprise Policy and Information Society. 

Before joining the European Commission, she was Deputy Head of the Brussels office of the German Industry Association (BDI). 

Mechthild studied Economics at the University of Heidelberg and the University of Montpellier, and holds a master’s degree in European Economics from the Free University of Brussels.