RenewableUK has selected Hugh McNeal as the trade association’s next Chief Executive, the post which he will take up in April 2016.
McNeal is currently Director of Change at the Department of Energy and Climate Change. His other roles have included Chief Executive of the Office for Renewable Energy Deployment at DECC, and Deputy Director of Low Carbon Business at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
“It will be a privilege to represent an industry which is playing such a vital role in providing safe, secure power for our country’s homes and businesses, as well as tens of thousands of high quality jobs across the UK,” McNeal said.
He takes over as Chief Executive from Maria McCaffery MBE, who has headed the organisation since June 2006. During that time, she has overseen a significant expansion in the deployment of onshore and offshore wind, as well as the development of wave and tidal energy.
RenewableUK’s Chairman Julian Brown said: ”Hugh brings an in-depth knowledge of the entire energy sector to RenewableUK at a crucial moment in the development of wind and marine power. I have no doubt that he will use his exceptional skills to represent the sector successfully, so that we can continue to increase the proportion of cost-effective electricity that we generate from home-grown sources, as well as creating jobs.”