UK: AREG Appoints New Board Members

Three high-profile business leaders have been appointed as directors to the Board of Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group (AREG), collectively bringing a considerable breadth of experience to help further position the region at the forefront of the sustainable energy industry.

The appointments, which were elected by associate members, have been announced following AREG’s Annual General Meeting (Wednesday, February 20). They include: Andrew Donaldson, of Petrofac; Kevin Moran, of Tymor Marine Ltd; and Tim Sheehan, of Reef Subsea.

 AREG’s chief operating officer, Morag McCorkindale, said: “We welcome three prominent industry figures who each have considerable expertise, particularly in business development and the supply chain. This, combined with the impressive credentials of existing Board members, further strengthens AREG’s ability to ensure that Aberdeen City and Shire plays a leading role as a world-class energy hub.

 “The AGM also provided an opportunity for the new Board and AREG members to discuss current industry issues and how we can best address them as well as identify opportunities for collaboration between members. This provides important industry feedback that helps AREG to further shape its strategy for building a sustainable energy industry in the region and to ensure it capitalises on the substantial business opportunities being created in the global market place.”

Andrew Donaldson is renewables director at the offshore projects business of international energy services provider, Petrofac, where he is responsible for the company’s renewable energy projects’ delivery business. He joined Petrofac from Scottish Southern Energy (SSE) where he led the development of SSE’s offshore engineering activities and was responsible for the engineering of all of SSE’s offshore renewable energy projects. These included the development of SSE’s offshore wind turbine test site at Hunterston and delivering its Centre for Offshore Renewables in Glasgow.

Andrew also led the creation and delivery of SSE’s alliances which brought Technip, Subsea 7, Wood Group and Atkins into alliances with the leading power industry manufacturers, Siemens and Mitsubishi. He subsequently secured significant funding from the Technology Strategy Board as part of a UK consortia that was formed to deliver Mitsubishi’s 7MW offshore wind turbine.

Kevin Moran, who has been re-elected to the AREG Board for a second term, is the managing and business development director for Tymor Marine Limited, a specialist design and analysis company that he formed in April 2012. Having started his career in the Merchant Navy, he has held senior positions with a number of multi-national organisations including Wood Group Renewable Energy and DOF Subsea.

Kevin, who is also a member of Scottish Renewables’ Board of Directors, is focused on the development of the supply chain and making sure it has voice in the growth of offshore renewable energy.

With more than 30 years’ experience in the offshore industry, Tim Sheehan has held a variety of roles in the sector specialising in subsea engineering. He has held a number of positions including vice president commercial for Technip and managing director of Bibby Offshore. In more recent years, Tim has been both managing director of subsea contracting major, Acergy UK, and deputy regional vice president for its Northern Europe and Canada regions.

In 2010, Tim joined Rotech as Group CEO before moving to Reef Subsea after the Rotech Subsea business was acquired in 2011. Reef Subsea is a leading Tier 2 subsea contractor operating in both the oil & gas and renewables sectors.

Speaking on behalf of the new Board members, Mr Moran said: “We are all pleased to have been given this opportunity to help further develop AREG’s standing and that of its members within the renewables industry. AREG has become recognised as the key driver of renewable energy in the North-east of Scotland and we will continue to work hard to ensure that this is maintained.

 “AREG is helping the region develop a robust renewable energy supply chain and, as part of the Board, we will play our part in identifying opportunities and working with our network of contacts to ensure that the region can maximise these.”

The AREG Board also includes chairman Jeremy Cresswell and the following directors: Councillor Jean Morrison, of Aberdeen City Council; Councillor Jim Gifford, leader of Aberdeenshire Council; Professor Paul Mitchell, director of the Institute of Energy Technologies at the University of Aberdeen; and John Black, a partner at Anderson Anderson and Brown.

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Press release, February 25, 2013; Image: bigpartnership