Origami Energy has appointed Margaret Rice-Jones as its chairman to drive the next phase of the company’s growth.
Rice-Jones joins the energy market technology platform provider with over 25 years of experience in winning strategies.
She is currently chairman at Software vendor, Openet and telecommunications provider, CTRLio, and a senior independent director of industrial inkjet printhead supplier Xaar plc.
Previously, she chaired Skyscanner from 2013-16 before its acquisition by the Chinese travel service provider Ctrip, for £1.4 billion. She has also had an executive career at Motorola Networks, and Aircom International, and delivered exits at compliance management firm QUMAS, and cloud-based provider NewBay Software.
She said: “Skyscanner’s marketplace technology transformed the travel industry by changing the way people bought flights and travel. Origami Energy is doing the same for the energy market.
“Innovation is at the heart of its business and my goal is to help successfully guide Origami Energy through its next exciting stage of growth, as we launch valuable new services and develop new partnerships in new markets.”
Rice-Jones added that she is excited to join a business with the ambition and potential of Origami Energy.
On the appointment Peter Bance, Origami Energy’s chief executive, said: “Margaret joins us with a wealth of experience in venture-backed, entrepreneurial technology platform businesses at a crucial time in the evolution of our company.
“She will be instrumental in guiding our growth and in helping us build on our major partnerships with companies like SmartestEnergy, Good Energy and Aggreko.
“Margaret’s experience will be invaluable as the business scales up and we start our journey of international expansion. Her appointment builds on the growing list of talented businesswomen operating at C-level within Origami Energy.”
The UK based company enabling greater use of renewables on the grid, recently raised £18.6 million funding from the likes of Octopus Ventures, Cambridge Innovation Capital and Fred Olsen, on the back of a major investment from Aggreko pushing the total to £36 million.
Aggreko recently acquired a 14 per cent share of Origami Energy.