Tim Yeo – Non-executive Chairman
Tim Yeo has been MP for South Suffolk since 1983. He held various Ministerial posts under Margaret Thatcher and John Major, including Minister of State at the Department of the Environment.
Between 1998 and 2005 he was a member of the Shadow Cabinet, shadowing a record seven different departments. Since 2005 he has been Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee. Tim holds a number of non-executive directorships in the energy and health sectors including Univent plc, ITI Energy Ltd and AFC Energy plc.
Gerard Sauer, Ing-MVT – Chief Executive Officer
Having been educated and trained in both Holland and Germany, Gerard established a prototype engineering business in the UK in 1971, working exclusively in the motor sport arena. During the latter part of the eighties an increasing amount of design and development work involved integrating advanced drive systems and fuel cell based integration work. Gerard worked increasingly on development and design work in the fields of SOFC, PEM and alkaline fuel cell system integration involving cars, vans, buses, boats and static generators. From 2001 onwards, Gerard instigated and led Eneco’s “Own Electrode Project” to establish the creation of a real world low cost electrode and fuel cell system.
Simon Walters, ACA - Finance Director
Simon qualified as a chartered accountant in 1986 and joined the corporate finance department of Stoy Hayward. In 1990, he joined Fuller Peiser, a national property consultancy, as Finance Partner where he stayed for two years before becoming Finance Director of the Molyneux property group, whose interests included 52% of USM-listed Molyneux Estates plc. In 1997, he became FD of the operating companies of Shani, a fully-listed clothing manufacturer with operations in the UK and Eastern Europe.
In 1999, Simon became FD of Wood Hall Securities, a private equity group with investments in a range of private high-growth businesses and a significant property portfolio. Simon has also been a Non-Executive Director of Biltston & Battersea Enamels plc, Finance Director of Fish! restaurant chain, and is managing director of FD Solutions which provides FD services to companies who don’t have a full-time FD.
Otto Carlisle, BEng (Hons), MSc, CEng, MIMechE - Technical Director
In 2000, Otto completed his degree in Mechanical engineering with Automotive design at Brunel University and joined Eneco to work on the design and development of the Alkaline Fuel Cell system, stacks and electrodes. In 2004 Otto became the Design Office Manager and was responsible for the development and testing of an in-house electrode and complete new system design. Otto became a Chartered Engineer and a Member of the IMechE in 2004 and finished his Masters in Renewable Energy Systems Technology at Loughborough University in 2005.
Terry Walsh, BA (Hons) - Commercial Director
Terry Walsh has worked in commercial roles in industry and retail for the past 17 years with a variety of blue chip corporations. Armed with a degree from London University, Terry joined ICI in 1991. Various roles in Sales, Marketing and Purchasing eventually led to a position as Energy Trading Manager where Terry gained extensive knowledge of the workings and deregulated UK energy market. Joining INEOS Chlor in 2000, Terry was a Business Manager for one of the largest Chlor Alkali businesses in Europe - the Chlor Alkali sector being a key segment for AFC’s products. Following a brief stint as Sales Director for a company in the UK and European retail sector Terry has joined the team at AFC as the Commercial Director although this does not include a position on the Board.
Brian Wilson – Non-executive Director
Rt Hon. Brian Wilson is a Privy Councillor and former UK Energy Minister who was a Member of Parliament from 1987 to 2005. In all, he held five Ministerial posts and latterly acted as the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Overseas Trade. Since leaving politics, he has maintained a strong interest in the energy sector on which he writes and broadcasts extensively, as well as holding several non-executive positions. Married with three children, Brian lives in Glasgow where he is a director of Celtic Football Club.
Dr Michael Mangan – Non-executive Director
Michael has a PhD in plasma behaviour in very high current electrical discharges from the University of Liverpool. He has extensive experience of electricity application projects for electric road vehicles gained from work at the Electricity Council, Lucas and more latterly Chloride Silent Power (CSPL), which he joined in 1986 as team leader for the US DOE sponsored sodium sulphur battery development programme. Michael joined the fuel cell company Zevco (later ZeTek Power) in 1998 as General Manager, based in Belgium and transferred to the Fuel Cell Systems subsidiary of ZeTek Power in 2000 as technology director, responsible for the development of operational fuel cell systems and third party training programmes. Following the closure of ZeTek Power in 2001, he continued with similar work for Eneco.
Harry Epstein – Non-executive Director
Harry is the Vice President of Innovations for Havi Global Solution, the provider of packaging, promotions and supply chain management globally to some of the world’s leading brand owners in the food service industry. Harry has been responsible for leading major brands into a sustainable solution, not only for packaging but sustainable architecture and energy, and has advised and developed proposals for creating as comprehensive a carbon neutral footprint in all areas as is feasible. Harry sits on various committees associated with environmentally responsible solutions. Harry has over 18 years of senior management experience; most of the time spent in the telecommunications and computer industries.
Mitchell Field – Non-executive Director
Mitchell owns Richards and Appleby Limited, the company is engaged in the manufacture, sales and distribution of branded toiletries and cosmetics. Among these are well-known heritage brands, including ‘Cyclax’ which holds a Royal Warrant from Her Majesty the Queen. His principal role is sales and marketing, dealing with blue-chip companies in the UK and exporting to over 60 companies internationally. Mitchell has investments and management interests in fashion, restaurants, property development, and importation and trading companies, and lives in South Wales.