McNeal is to take up the post of chief executive at the trade body in April.
He said: “It will be a privilege to represent an industry which is playing such a vital role in providing safe, secure power for our country’s homes and businesses, as well as tens of thousands of high quality jobs across the UK.”
Currently, the director of change focuses on improving the Department’s efficiency and delivering financial savings, his other roles have included chief executive of the Office for Renewable Energy Deployment at Decc, and deputy director of Low Carbon Business at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
McNeal takes over from Maria McCaffery who has headed the organisation since June 2006 and has overseen a significant expansion in the deployment of onshore and offshore wind, as well as the development of wave and tidal energy.
McCaffery said: “I am delighted to be handing over the reins of chief executive to such a capable pair of hands. He has a wealth of experience on energy policy and I have no doubt that he will be a highly effective champion of wind, wave and tidal energy”.
Renewable UK’s chairman, Julian Brown said: “Maria’s achievements as cheif executive have been extraordinary. When she took on the role, 1 per cent of the UK’s electricity was generated by wind. By last year, that had increased to 11 per cent.
“Now we have a new captain at the helm, and I’m confident that he will steer us to even greater successes in the future. Hugh brings an in-depth knowledge of the entire energy sector to Renewable UK at a crucial moment in the development of wind and marine power.”