Kadri Simson

Kadri Simson (née Must, born 22 January 1977) is an Estonian politician from the Centre Party, European Commissioner for Energy in the von der Leyen Commission since 1 December 2019.

Early life
Simson graduated from Tartu 10th Middle School in 1995, Tartu University in 2000, (majoring in history). She holds an MA in Political Science from University College London (2003). Simson was a board member of the NGO Institute of Recent Studies.

Political career
Simson has been a member of the Estonian Center Party since 1995. She worked as an advisor to the Tallinn City Government in 1999, later Tallinn Mayor between 2001 and 2002. Simson served as chairwoman of the Pärnumaa region from 2011 until 2021.

In 2015, Simson failed to challenge party leader Edgar Savisaar for his role after an almost uninterrupted 25-year tenure. Savisaar won the vote of 541 delegates, to Simson's 486, from a total of 1,051.

Personal life
Between 6 June 2008 and February 2015, Simson was married to journalist Priit Simson. Afterwards, she began a relationship with former chairman of HKScan Estonia, Teet Soorm.