UK: GL Garrad Hassan Names New Non-Executive Chairman and President

Dr Andrew Garrad will hand day-to-day leadership responsibility for the GL Group’s renewable energy business segment to Dr RV Ahilan, who will become President of the business in mid-October.

Dr Andrew Garrad will take up the position of Non-Executive Chairman. The GL Group’s Renewables business segment consists of consultancy GL Garrad Hassan and the independent third party certification body GL Renewables Certification (GL RC).

In his new role, Dr Garrad’s focus will shift to the strategic issues facing the business and the renewable energy industry, including building and strengthening relationships with industry stakeholders, the potential of new technology and innovations, and the policy and regulatory environment. He will report directly to GL Group Executive Board Member, Pekka Paasivaara.

Dr Ahilan joins GL Garrad Hassan and GL RC from a successful career with GL Noble Denton, the GL Group’s oil and gas division, where he served as a member of the Management Board for many years. Dr Ahilan has a PhD from the University of Cambridge and an MBA from Imperial College, University of London. He played a key role in initiating Noble Denton’s activity in the renewable energy sector before the merger with GL in 2009. His in-depth knowledge of its operations will allow an even stronger link to be formed between GL Garrad Hassan and GL Noble Denton, especially in providing technical advice to the offshore wind industry.

With currently more than 1,000 people employed around the world, the expansion of the renewable energy division has turned the GL Group into a major force within the sector. Speaking of the changes to the management structure Pekka Paasivaara said: “Dr Garrad has become one of the industry’s most respected technical leaders; so much so that the Royal Academy of Engineering honoured his work with a fellowship in 2011. I am very pleased that he will continue to build upon the world-class reputation of the renewables business within the Group.”

“Dr Ahilan has enjoyed a very successful technical and management career within the GL Group. He is held in high regard for his technical expertise and commercial acumen within the energy industry and I am delighted to have him as President of our renewable energy division.”

[mappress]

Press release, September 27, 2012; Image: gl