Timo Poppe grew up in Wildeshausen, Germany. After training as an industrial clerk, he completed his studies with a degree in industrial engineering from the private university PHWT in Vechta/Diepholz. He then joined utility group EWE AG, where he worked in the sales department until 2007 prior to becoming assistant to the CEO (until the end of 2008) and head of the executive office department (until mid-2009).

In August 2009, Timo Poppe moved to the corporate development department of EWE AG, which he led as authorised officer until mid-2012. In August 2012, he was appointed chief representative for infrastructure at EWE AG and board member responsible for grids at swb AG (Stadtwerke Bremen). In these roles, he was responsible for the network businesses with the divisions electricity, broadband, drinking water, wastewater and natural gas. From 2015, Timo Poppe was head of the finance and infrastructure departments at swb AG. After leaving swb AG in 2021, with Palladio Partners he co-founded Palladio Kommunal GmbH, a boutique investment firm focusing on the infrastructure of municipally owned companies, in particular municipal utilities. As of 1 July 2023, Timo Poppe is CEO of EEW Energy from Waste GmbH.

Timo Poppe has been chairman of the supervisory board in several companies in the energy and water industry. He has been a member of the Energy Industry Steering Committee of the German Association of Local Utilities (VKU) since May 2024 and was previously a member of the executive committee and chairman of the digitalisation committee. Since March 2023, he has been Vice President and co-opted member of the executive committee of the BDE Federation of the German Waste, Water and Circular Economy Management Industry).

In addition to his voluntary work in the industry's leading associations, Timo Poppe is an auditor and member of the decision-making body of the German Sea Rescue Service (DGzRS). He is married and has two children.