Jackow joins Hyundai Motor Group Vice-Chair Jaehoon Chang in the position, at what the Council called a “defining moment” for the hydrogen sector.

With more projects heading toward construction, alongside a consolidation of developments and companies, the Council said its leadership will focus on priorities including demand, infrastructure and standards.

Air Liquide was one of 13 founding members of the Council in 2017 and has been increasing its clean hydrogen project developments alongside its traditional industrial gas business.

Jackow has headed the French firm since 2022 and said he was “convinced” industry-led coalitions like the Council could “make a difference.”

“I am looking forward to working together with this great collective of 140 member companies to unlock hydrogen’s full potential as a core pillar of the global energy transition,” he added.

He takes over the role from Sanjiv Lamba, CEO of rival industrial gas firm Linde, who had served as co-chair since June 2023.

Under his tenure, Lamba said the group put hydrogen “firmly on the global agenda” and built confidence among policymakers and investors to move real projects into delivery.

“There is still work ahead to unlock demand, but I am confident the Council and its members will continue driving the impact needed as the industry enters its next phase of scale.”

The change of leadership comes after the Council released its flagship report in September, which positioned demand for clean hydrogen as the industry’s “next great test.”

The Global Hydrogen Compass report said over 510 projects had passed final investment decision globally, with over six million tonnes per year (mtpa) of clean hydrogen now committed – up from 0.69 mtpa five years ago.

However, it found just 3.6 mtpa of those volumes had a binding offtake agreement signed, with 70% concentrated in existing use cases like ammonia and refining.

It also highlighted the cancellation or delay of early-stage projects, describing it as “natural attribution” in a maturing sector.