A number of people have moved around the sector this week, with two companies announcing multiple hires.
Here is Utility Week’s roundup of appointments.
Low Carbon Contracts Company and Electricity Settlements Company
Former Ofwat chief executive Regina Finn has been appointed as chair of the Low Carbon Contracts Company (LCCC) and the Electricity Settlements Company (ESC). The companies were established by the government in 2014 to act as the respective counterparties for agreements awarded through Contracts for Difference and Capacity Market schemes.
Finn has held a number of board positions including chair of Mutual Energy and non-executive director with the Channel Islands Competition and Regulation Authority and Irish Water.
She was the first chief executive of Ofwat and headed up the Commission for Energy Regulation in Ireland as well as the Office of Utility Regulation in the Channel Islands.
She also worked for the Irish government and as deputy director general of the telecommunications regulator in Ireland – now ComReg.
Greenlink Interconnector
Greenlink Interconnector, the company planning to install a 500MW subsea cable between Ireland and Great Britain, has announced it has appointed two leading figures from the Irish energy and business sectors – Tim Cowhig and Johnny Shine.
Tim Cowhig is joining the board of directors. He was previously chief executive of Element Power Ireland until its sale in 2018 as well as chief executive of SWS and chair of the Irish Wind Energy Association.
Johnny Shine, meanwhile, is the former deputy chief executive of ESB, Ireland’s state-owned electricity utility, and was most recently managing director of EIR Networks.
He has had an extensive career across the energy and telecoms sectors and is joining Greenlink’s management committee.
Tim Cowhig said: “Having guided numerous renewable energy start-ups to become key industry players, I am extremely excited about joining such an important energy project for Ireland.
“The government’s recent ‘Climate Action Plan’ sets out a welcome vision, with an attainable 70 per cent renewables target and unequivocal endorsement of the need for greater interconnection.
“It shows the value of Greenlink for the Irish energy market and the greater integration of low carbon sources.”
Johnny Shine said: “Greenlink is a key infrastructure project that will bring private capital into the Irish energy market, to improve energy security, while supporting regional jobs and supply chain investment.
“In particular it will strengthen the energy industry in delivering greater market integration and value to consumers in Ireland and GB. I am therefore delighted to be working with Greenlink’s management team in driving this project forward.”
Bioenergy Infrastructure Group
Bioenergy Infrastructure Group (BIG), an independent generator specialising in energy-from-waste and biomass, has announced two new senior appointments – Ben Williams as head of transactions and Helena Barrett as head of synergy.
Williams, who was previously an associate director at Gravis Capital Management, MUFG and KPMG, will will be responsible for progressing and expanding the company’s pipeline of projects.
Barrett, meanwhile, will be tasked with “unlocking the intrinsic additional value” from BIG’s existing portfolio of assets.
She joins from infrastructure company John Laing, where she served as investment manager, leading project development opportunities in the renewable energy sector across Europe.
Prior to John Laing, Barrett was a business development manager and technical advisor at Fichtner Consulting Engineers.
Commenting on the appointments, Neil Bennett, chief commercial officer at BIG, said: “We are delighted to welcome Ben and Helena to our growing team of sector professionals.
“With their wealth of expertise and experience, they will provide welcome additional senior capacity and help us to drive forward our expansion plans.”