François Jackow, CEO of Air Liquide, has been appointed Co-Chair of the Hydrogen Council, signalling industry-led efforts to boost demand, standardise infrastructure, and unlock the sector’s full potential ahead of 2030 expansion targets.
François Jackow, chief executive of Air Liquide, has been named Co‑Chair of the Hydrogen Council, joining Jaehoon Chang, Vice‑Chair of Hyundai Motor Group, as the industry body seeks to steer the sector through what it calls a “defining moment.” According to the original report, the appointment replaces Sanjiv Lamba, CEO of Linde, who had served as Co‑Chair since June 2023.
Jackow, who has led Air Liquide since June 2022, said he was “convinced” industry‑led coalitions like the Council could “make a difference.” He added he was “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.” The Council has said its leadership will prioritise demand, infrastructure and standards as projects move from planning into construction.
Industry data published by the Council in its Global Hydrogen Compass report underpins the emphasis on demand. The report shows over 510 projects have passed final investment decision worldwide, with more than six million tonnes per year (mtpa) of clean hydrogen now committed , up from 0.69 mtpa five years earlier. However, it found only 3.6 mtpa have binding offtake agreements, and roughly 70% of committed volumes remain concentrated in existing uses such as ammonia and refining. The report also notes the cancellation or delay of early‑stage projects as “natural attrition” in a maturing sector.
Lamba reflected on the Council’s progress under his tenure, saying 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,” he said.
Air Liquide’s elevation to the co‑chair role comes amid the company’s expanding clean hydrogen activities alongside its core industrial gases business. Its strategic focus mirrors broader member initiatives to build out the value chain: Hyundai and Air Liquide have recently deepened cooperation across production, storage, transport and utilisation to accelerate deployment in Europe, the US and Korea, moving beyond mobility into broader infrastructure and logistics solutions.
For practitioners in industrial decarbonisation, the leadership change signals continuity in the Council’s push to translate project announcements into commercially backed supply chains. The immediate policy and market tasks are clear: tighten routes to offtake, standardise infrastructure and trading frameworks, and align project pipelines with credible demand signals so the sector can scale cost‑competitively toward 2030. According to the original report, the Council aims to unlock commercial‑scale demand by that date , a benchmark that will test whether the current pipeline converts into sustained industrial utilisation and cross‑border trade.
- https://www.h2-view.com/story/air-liquide-boss-named-hydrogen-council-co-chair-at-sectors-defining-moment/2135503.article/?utm_source=gw&utm_medium=rss_feed&utm_campaign=rss – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://hydrogencouncil.com/en/hydrogen-council-welcomes-air-liquide-ceo-francois-jackow-as-new-co-chair/ – The Hydrogen Council, the world’s largest CEO-led hydrogen alliance, has announced François Jackow, CEO of Air Liquide, as its new Co-Chair. Jackow joins Jaehoon Chang, Vice Chair of Hyundai Motor Group, at a pivotal time for the global hydrogen industry. The Council aims to focus on critical priorities such as demand, infrastructure, and standards to accelerate hydrogen deployment and unlock commercial-scale demand by 2030. Air Liquide, a founding member of the Hydrogen Council, has been increasing its clean hydrogen project developments alongside its traditional industrial gas business. Jackow expressed his commitment to working with the collective of 140 member companies to unlock hydrogen’s full potential as a core pillar of the global energy transition. He takes over the role from Sanjiv Lamba, CEO of Linde plc, who served as Co-Chair since June 2023. Under Lamba’s leadership, the Council put hydrogen firmly on the global agenda and built confidence among policymakers and investors to move real projects into delivery. The leadership change follows the release of the Council’s flagship report in September, which positioned demand for clean hydrogen as the industry’s ‘next great test.’ The Global Hydrogen Compass report indicated that over 510 projects had passed final investment decision globally, with over six million tonnes per year of clean hydrogen now committed, up from 0.69 mtpa five years ago. However, it found that just 3.6 mtpa of those volumes had a binding offtake agreement signed, with 70% concentrated in existing use cases like ammonia and refining. The report also highlighted the cancellation or delay of early-stage projects, describing it as ‘natural attrition’ in a maturing sector.
- https://www.hyundai.com/worldwide/en/newsroom/detail/0000001085 – Hyundai Motor Group and Air Liquide have advanced their global partnership to accelerate the hydrogen ecosystem. The collaboration focuses on building a sustainable energy ecosystem across Europe, the U.S., and Korea, encompassing production, storage, transportation, and utilization. The partnership expands beyond mobility to include infrastructure, logistics, and clean energy solutions, supporting the global energy transition. Major milestones in Korea demonstrate the partnership’s progress in fuel cell electric vehicle commercialization, refueling infrastructure, and hydrogen supply chain innovation. The partnership aims to strengthen the hydrogen value chain and contribute to the realization of a hydrogen society.
- https://www.airliquide.com/sites/airliquide.com/files/2024-04/air-liquide-2024-invitation-to-our-general-meeting.pdf – Air Liquide’s 2024 Invitation to the General Meeting document provides insights into the company’s governance and strategic focus areas. The document highlights the company’s commitment to the energy and environmental transition, with a particular emphasis on hydrogen. It outlines the roles and responsibilities of key executives, including François Jackow, who became the Chief Executive Officer in June 2022. The document also details the company’s strategic initiatives and organizational structure, reflecting its dedication to sustainable development and the advancement of hydrogen technologies.
- https://www.hyundai.com/worldwide/en/newsroom/detail/hydrogen-council-welcomes-hyundai-motor-company-as-new-co-chair-0000000781 – The Hydrogen Council has announced Hyundai Motor Company President and CEO Jaehoon Chang as its new Co-Chair, joining Sanjiv Lamba, CEO of Linde. Together, the two Co-Chairs will work closely with member CEOs as the Council enters its next chapter focused on unlocking demand for hydrogen and creating a framework for global trade and accelerated investment. Hyundai, a founding member of the Hydrogen Council, has been at the forefront of hydrogen momentum for nearly half of the company’s existence, achieving many firsts, including the world’s first mass-produced fuel cell electric passenger and heavy-duty vehicles (FCEVs), holding the world’s top-selling record. The company’s commitment to the realization of a hydrogen society extends to the entire hydrogen value chain beyond mobility, providing business solutions from production to storage, transportation, and utilization.
- https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hyundai-motor-president-and-ceo-jaehoon-chang-announced-as-new-co-chair-of-hydrogen-council-302174125.html – Hyundai Motor President and CEO Jaehoon Chang has been appointed as the new Co-Chair of the Hydrogen Council, joining Sanjiv Lamba, CEO of Linde. Together, the two Co-Chairs will work closely with member CEOs as the organization enters its next chapter, focused on unlocking the potential demand for a global hydrogen economy and creating a framework for international trade and accelerated investment. President and CEO Chang takes over from Yoshinori Kanehana, Chairman of Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd., who served as Co-Chair for the past two and a half years.
- https://www.hyundaimotorgroup.com/en/news/CONT0000000000154132 – The Hydrogen Council has announced Hyundai Motor Company President and CEO Jaehoon Chang as its new Co-Chair, joining Sanjiv Lamba, CEO of Linde. Together, the two Co-Chairs will work closely with member CEOs as the Council enters its next chapter focused on unlocking demand for hydrogen and creating a framework for global trade and accelerated investment. A founding member of the Hydrogen Council, Hyundai has been at the forefront of hydrogen momentum for nearly half of the company’s existence, achieving many firsts, including the world’s first mass-produced fuel cell electric passenger and heavy-duty vehicles (FCEVs), holding the world’s top-selling record. The company’s commitment to the realization of a hydrogen society extends to the entire hydrogen value chain beyond mobility, providing business solutions from production to storage, transportation, and utilization.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative is fresh, with the earliest known publication date being December 3, 2025. The Hydrogen Council’s official announcement on this date aligns with the report’s timing. ([hydrogencouncil.com](https://hydrogencouncil.com/en/hydrogen-council-welcomes-air-liquide-ceo-francois-jackow-as-new-co-chair/?utm_source=openai))
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
The direct quotes attributed to François Jackow and Jaehoon Chang are consistent across multiple reputable sources, indicating originality. No earlier instances of these exact quotes were found, suggesting they are exclusive to this announcement. ([hydrogencouncil.com](https://hydrogencouncil.com/en/hydrogen-council-welcomes-air-liquide-ceo-francois-jackow-as-new-co-chair/?utm_source=openai))
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative originates from the Hydrogen Council’s official announcement, a reputable organisation. The report is also covered by established outlets like H2 View, further confirming its credibility. ([h2-view.com](https://www.h2-view.com/story/air-liquide-boss-named-hydrogen-council-co-chair-at-sectors-defining-moment/2135503.article/?utm_source=openai))
Plausability check
Score:
10
Notes:
The claims about François Jackow’s appointment and the Hydrogen Council’s focus areas are corroborated by multiple reputable sources. The narrative’s details align with the official announcement and other reputable outlets, indicating high plausibility. ([hydrogencouncil.com](https://hydrogencouncil.com/en/hydrogen-council-welcomes-air-liquide-ceo-francois-jackow-as-new-co-chair/?utm_source=openai))
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is fresh, with no evidence of recycled content. The quotes are original and exclusive to this announcement. The source is reputable, and the claims are plausible, supported by multiple credible outlets. No signs of disinformation were detected.
