Best Startup
At Best Startup UK we track over 130,000 UK startups and over 500,000 people who hold key positions in these companies. We use this directory of startups to highlight top employees, founders and board members we think deserve more appreciation than they are currently getting.
This list showcases the top United Kingdom based Chairman operating in the Energy space. If you think a Chairman is missing from this list, feel free to contact our editor on editor@beststartup.co.uk.
The individuals on this list have been included because of exceptional performance in one of the following categories:
- Innovation – Operating as a key part in an extremely innovative business or startup.
- Growth – Operating as a key figure in the growth and upscale of a market leading business or startup.
- Management – Showing exceptional management skills.
- Societal impact – Putting their business on the map for their positive societal or environmental impact.
Our Data – We source our data from OSINT (open source intelligence) and public directories such as Companies House UK, Crunchbase, SemRush and many more. The data from these sources should be treated with a degree of caution and verified yourself.
Paul Ellis
Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Electron
Paul Ellis is co-founder and CEO at Electron, a new platform focusing on reinventing the retail energy market in the UK using the Ethereum blockchain. Prior to Electron, Paul spent 13 years in Investment Banking. He founded a development business and fin tech incubator. He then created and ran an electronic trading platform for credit derivatives for a number of years.
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About Electron: Electron is accelerating the energy industry’s transition to Net Zero by making granular, market-based interactions possible.
Lorenzo Simonelli
Founder, Chairman & CEO of Baker Hughes
Lorenzo Simonelli is President & CEO of GE Oil & Gas, an advanced technology equipment and services company that serves all segments of the oil and gas industry from extraction to transportation to end use. The business employs 43,000 people around the world. Before joining GE Oil & Gas, Lorenzo was President and CEO of GE Transportation, a global transportation leader in the rail, mining, marine and energy storage industries. During his five-year tenure, he expanded and diversified GE Transportation by focusing on advanced technology manufacturing, intelligent control systems, and a diverse approach to new propulsion solutions to solve the world’s toughest transportation challenges. Lorenzo has also served as CFO Americas for GE Consumer & Industrial, as well as General Manager, Product Management for GE Appliances, Lighting, Electrical Distribution and Motors. He joined GE’s Financial Management Program in 1994, where he worked on assignments in GE International, GE Shared Services, GE Oil & Gas and Consolidated Financial Insurance. Originally from Florence, Italy, Lorenzo is is a Business & Economics Graduate from Cardiff University in South Wales.
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About Baker Hughes: Baker Hughes is an energy technology company that provides solutions for energy and industrial customers worldwide.
Stephen Voller
Chairman & CEO of ZapGo
Stephen is an experienced business leader and a recognised authority on energy storage technologies. He is the inventor of Carbon-Ion and he founded ZapGo Limited in 2013 to produce the next generation of energy storage devices based on this technology platform, with four core values: to be faster charging, safer, longer lasting and more recyclable than lithium batteries. Stephen has taken several technology businesses through concept, design and then into production. He launched the first ever CE-marked hydrogen fuel cell product, and was co-founder of the hydrogen storage company, Cella Energy. He previously ran a $1bn business unit at IBM. He is a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and is a Freeman of the Guild of Entrepreneurs in the City of London.
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About ZapGo: ZapGo offers carbon-ion cells, an ultra-fast charging, non-flammable, near-term alternative to lithium-ion batteries.
Klaas de Boer
Chairman of General Fusion
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About General Fusion, Tsjukemar: General Fusion develops utility-scale fusion power using magnetized target fusion.
David Bunch
Vice President Retail Sales and Operations & Chairman SDSA of Royal Dutch Shell
David has been with Shell for 17 years – in a number of marketing & sales roles. Prior to his appointment as Vice-President Marketing, David was General Manager Retail Lubricant Sales for the Americas within the Global Commercial organization.After graduating in Psychology and Economics, David completed an MBA at the London Business School and then began his career in Asia, moving to Europe and then the US – where prior to joining Shell he worked with Sony, in the PlayStation division; Japan Steel, in new product development; and Anderson Consulting, in the Retail practice.
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About Royal Dutch Shell: Royal Dutch Shell is a global group of energy and petrochemicals companies.
Michael Liebreich
Chairman & CEO of BloombergNEF
Michael Liebreich is Founder and Chair of the Advisory Board of Bloomberg New Energy Finance, the world’s leading provider of research on clean energy, energy technology and advanced transportation. Michael founded New Energy Finance in 2004 and acted as Chair and Chief Executive before selling it to Bloomberg LP in 2009. Bloomberg New Energy Finance is headquartered in London and now has over 200 staff in 13 offices around the world.
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About BloombergNEF, Imperial College London: BloombergNEF provides industry information, analytics, and research services for the clean energy and carbon markets.
Stephen Partridge-Hicks
Chairman of Eelpower
Stephen Partridge-Hicks is a Managing Director at Gordian Knot.
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About Eelpower, Gordian Knot Limited: Eelpower is a battery storage developer that operates energy storage solutions.
Ravi Kailas
Chairman of Mytrah Energy
Ravi Kailas, the founder of Mytrah Group, has 25 years of entrepreneurial experience in various sectors including telecom, software, real estate linked financial options and infrastructure. He was the founder of a number of start-up companies, including Zip Global Network, a telecom services company; Xius Technologies, a telecom software company which launched the world’s first inter-operator prepaid roaming service, and Altius, a real estate financial options company. Ravi Kailas has a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Communications Engineering from Osmania University and a Master’s degree from the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University.
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About Mytrah Energy: Mytrah Energy (India) Limited (MEIL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Guernsey based and AIM/LSE listed MEL in India,
Sundeep Bahanda
Chairman of Azura-Edo IPP
Sundeep Bahanda is the chairman of Azura-Edo and also the co-founder of Amaya Capital. Sundeep earned his bachelor’s degree at University of Strathclyde.
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About Azura-Edo IPP: Azura-Edo IPP is a 450MW open cycle gas turbine power station being constructed near Benin City in Edo State, Nigeria.
Bernard Fairman
Chairman of Foresight Group
Bernard Fairman co-founded Foresight Group in 1984 to raise a new fund for investment in unquoted technology companies based in the UK, the US and France. He has over 45 years of experience and acts as the Group’s Chairman. Bernard is responsible for strategic direction and management of Foresight through organic growth and acquisition to leading positions in the VCT and UK environmental infrastructure markets. Prior to joining Foresight Bernard worked at 3i Ventures as an Investment Manager where he was responsible for sourcing, evaluating and negotiating investments. Bernard holds a BA in Applied Economics from the University of Nottingham.
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About Foresight Group: Foresight is an infrastructure and private equity investment manager that manages funds on behalf of institutions and retail clients.
Adrian Binks
Executive Chairman of Argus Media group
Adrian Binks is chairman, publisher and major shareholder of the Argus Media group of companies. Adrian developed the company after buying a partnership in a small newsletter business following an earlier career in BP and a brief stint working as an oil industry analyst in the City of London. In 1984 he took management control, renamed the company and started the development of a global business under the Argus brand. Adrian grew up in Leeds where he attended the local grammar school before reading history at Cambridge University.
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About Argus Media group, Metal Pages: Argus Media group is a global energy and commodity price reporting agency.
David Fyfe
Co-Founder & Executive Chairman of Bodle Technologies
David is a founder and Executive Chairman of Bodle Technologies. His career spans several top management positions in both Europe and the United States, and he has held board positions in several firms over the years. As Chief Executive Officer of Cambridge Display Technologies (CDT), he took a laboratory-based spin-off to a NASDAQ flotation and a subsequent $285m trade sale. David is also the Executive Chairman of Oxford Photovoltaics. As a resident of Jacksonville, Florida, David also serves on the board of Cambridge in America foundation.
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About Bodle Technologies: Developing SRD® technology for a low-power display of vivid colours that doesn’t look washed out in bright conditions
Volker Beckers
Non Executive Chairman of Reactive Technologies
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About Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, Reactive Technologies: Reactive Technologies develops new technologies that assists the energy industry to deliver cleaner, greener, and more affordable energy.
Roy Franklin
Chairman of the Board of Directors of Cuadrilla
Roy Franklin is the Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors at Statoil since June 2015. Roy was a Member of the Board of Directors at StatoilHydro from October 2007 and Statoil from November 2009 until June 2013. Roy has previously been the chair of both the board’s safety, sustainability and ethics committee and the board’s audit committee. Roy was also previously a Member of the Board of Directors at StatoilHydro from October 2007 and Statoil from November 2009 until June 2013. Roy is also a Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors at Keller Group plc, a London-based international engineering company and Cuadrilla Resources Holdings Limited, a privately held UK company focusing on unconventional energy sources. Roy is also a Member of the Board of Directors at the Australian oil and gas company Santos Ltd., the private equity firm Kerogen Capital Ltd. and the London-based international engineering company Amec Foster Wheeler. A geologist by training, Roy has over 40 years experience in the oil and gas industry. Roy spent 18 years in various exploration and management positions with BP, before leaving to join Clyde Petroleum plc, where he became Group Managing Director in 1994. Roy subsequently became Chief Executive Officer at Paladin Resources plc, a position he held until the company’s sale to Talisman in 2006. Roy earned his Bachelor of Science in Geology from the University of Southampton, UK. In 2004, Roy was awarded an Order of the British Empire in recognition of his services to the oil and gas industry. Roy is the Chairman of the Board of Directors at Cuardrilla since April 2015, having joined the board of Cuadrilla Resources in 2012.
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About : Cuadrilla is owned exploration and production company.
John Durham
Co-Founder and Chairman of Moltex Energy
An active philanthropic environmentalist, John has been focused on innovative ways of influencing UK policy to tackle climate change since his retirement from the software industry in 2005. He co-founded the Weinberg Foundation with Bryony Worthington and through the Foundation met Ian Scott. He saw the enormous potential of the Stable Salt Reactor and formed a partnership with Ian, Moltex Energy LLP, to help bring this potentially world saving technology off paper and into reality.
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About Moltex Energy: Moltex Energy is developing a next generation nuclear reactor that can produce clean electricity
Doug Ward
Chairman of Celtic Renewables
In a long and distinguished career, spanning over 35 years, Doug Ward established himself as one of the most influential people in Scotland’s biofuel, agriculture and food & drink industries. Roles included: Managing Director of William Forrest and Sons (key role in BSE crisis); founder of Argent Energy which constructed a £15 million biodiesel plant (first facility of its kind in the world producing diesel entirely from waste oil sources). Doug serves as the Vice-President of the European Biodiesel Board and former Chairman of the Renewable Energy Association transport fuels group. He is a leading international authority on biofuel and a key influencer on policy in the UK and the EU.
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About Celtic Renewables: Celtic Renewables is a biofuel startup focused on the renewable energy and whisky sector.
Aidan Heavey
Founder and Chairman of Tullow Oil
Mr. Aidan Heavey founded Tullow Oil plc in 1985 and has been its Non-Executive Chairman since April 26, 2017. Mr. Heavey served as Chief Executive Officer of Tullow Oil plc from 1985 to April 26, 2017. Mr. Heavey played a key role in the development of Tullow from its formation in 1985, to its current international status. With an accounting background, he worked in the airline and engineering sectors in Ireland. He serves as Executive Director of Tullow Oil plc. He serves as a Director at Traidlinks. He is a Chartered Accountant.
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About Tullow Oil: Tullow Oil is an independent oil and gas, exploration and production group.
David Kingham
Executive Vice Chairman of Tokamak Energy
David is our Executive Vice Chairman and former Chief Executive Officer. He is an integral part of our management team and one of our board members. A trained theoretical physicist, he was one of the Founders of the business and became our CEO in 2009 having spent almost two decades as the Managing Director of Oxford Innovation, a company that has supported hundreds of successful new technology ventures. David successfully led Tokamak Energy through three investment rounds and worked with colleagues and investors to mastermind an ambitious, yet achievable, business plan to drive innovation and accelerate the development of our fusion energy mission. David’s ample experience has proved invaluable in growing and directing the business. He is a former Chairman of the R&D Society and has been a director at various high technology and knowledge-based start-ups. He has also won and delivered major contracts aimed at supporting innovation, entrepreneurship and business growth at regional and international levels.
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About Tokamak Energy: Tokamak Energy is a private company developing and accelerating the development of fusion power.
Steve Packard
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Trident Energy
Steve Packard is the Chief Executive Officer of Trident Energy. Prior to his appointment with Trident, Mr Packard was the founder and CEO of whereonearth Ltd. whereonearth was a software vendor, providing “location enabling” technology for Internet search services. As CEO, Mr Packard raised £8m in venture capital funding and assembled a strong management to grow the business. Mr Packard was awarded “Innovator of the Year” in 2001 at the CSSA’s Annual Gala Dinner and the company secured a top ten place in the Sunday Times “Tech Track 100” in 2002. He exited the company via a successful trade sale exit to Yahoo! Inc in 2005. Prior to wheronearth, Mr Packard was part of a three man start-up team of a company named San Serif. San Serif secured the exclusive rights to produce Trivial Pursuit and Pictionary Board Games worldwide and Mr Packard was Group Production Director. Mr Packard was part of the team which successfully completed the IPO of Serif PLC in 1987.
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About Trident Energy: Trident Energy is an independent developer of enabling technology for the offshore renewables industry.
John Mapplebeck
Chairman of Green Hedge
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About Green Hedge: Green Hedge is a leading developer and operator of low carbon electricity generation and storage projects.
Julian Hammond
Co-Founder/Chairman of Zamare Minerals
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About Zamare Minerals: Zamare discovers, acquires, and explores mineral resources, such as copper and cobalt, that are needed in renewable energy industries.
Adrian Pike
Chairman Of The Board of HS Orka
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About HS Orka: HS Orka is supply electricity to households and companies throughout the country.
Colin Calder
Vice Chairman of Scrabster Harbour
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About : Britain’s most northern mainland port providing services for oil and gas, renewables, cruise, ferries, fishing, property and cargo sectors.
Thomas Pottinger
Chairman of Scrabster Harbour
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About : Britain’s most northern mainland port providing services for oil and gas, renewables, cruise, ferries, fishing, property and cargo sectors.
Scott Martin
Executive Chairman of Glacier Energy Services
Scott Martin is the executive chairman at Glacier Energy Services.
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About Glacier Energy Services: Glacier Energy Services offers specialist engineered solutions to the oil & gas industry and global energy sectors.
