GIB Appoints Two MDs, Invests in Offshore Wind Projects in Construction Stage (UK)

The Green Investment Bank (GIB) has announced that Christine Brockwell and Gregor Paterson-Jones will imminently take up the roles of Managing Director of Offshore Wind and Non Domestic Energy Efficiency (NDEE) respectively.

Offshore wind is one of GIB’s mandated priority investment sectors and is expected to have the largest share of GIB’s initial £3bn capital. In its first six months of operation, GIB’s focus has been the secondary market for operating assets, investing in existing offshore wind projects to allow capital to be recycled into new projects.

The appointment of Christine coincides with the expansion of GIB’s offshore wind investment strategy, which will see it continue to invest in secondary markets as well as now investing in offshore projects in the construction stage.

Shaun Kingsbury, chief executive, Green Investment Bank, said:

“The development in our offshore wind strategy will ensure that we can mobilise investment at a critical, early stage of a project. I am looking forward to working with Christine to turn our broadened strategy into reality.

“Gregor, joining us all the way from South Africa, is another key appointment, which completes our senior leadership team. I am particularly pleased that Gregor will be leading the execution of our NDEE strategy from our Edinburgh headquarters.

“Today’s announcement shows that we can attract the very best global talent, and I look forward to working with our new MDs as they lead the delivery of our investment strategy in two of our priority investment sectors.”

Christine, who joins GIB’s London office from Germany, was previously a Director at Global Capital Finance, a leading financial services advisory firm where she was responsible for the firm’s European renewable energy transactions and global equity syndication. In her capacity at GCF, she led the company on several noteworthy asset-based M&A transactions, including offshore wind.

Christine said:

“Offshore wind will play a significant role in helping the UK meet its binding renewable energy obligations. Through its direct funding capabilities and its desire to stimulate co-investment from other institutions, the Green Investment Bank is vital to the industry’s success in realising its planned installed capacity. I am extremely proud to lead the offshore wind effort for GIB, and together with Shaun and the rest of the team, will work tirelessly to ensure that GIB makes a valuable contribution to this sector.”

Gregor is relocating to Edinburgh from Cape Town to take up his new role. He will be joined by a newly appointed Director Iain Watson, who will also be based in Edinburgh. Gregor was previously CEO of Sterling Waterford Securities (SWS), a South African asset management and advisory firm, where he was involved in a number of financial innovations in the renewable energy market and carbon emissions trading market. At SWS, he initiated the listed trading market for carbon credits on the JSE Securities Exchange and played a key role in creating new financing structures in the formative stages of the biofuels and voluntary offset markets.

Gregor said:

“I am delighted to be joining the UK Green Investment Bank, having closely followed the bank’s progress and investments to date. It is good to see that in a few short months, GIB has already made two significant NDEE investments, driving significant private sector co-investment. I look forward to working with Shaun and the team at GIB to build on the £2.3 billion capital that the Bank has already mobilised.” 

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Press release, May 28, 2013; Image: londonarray