The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) has revealed its new executive leadership team to support the company as it embarks on the next phase to pioneer clean energy.

Matthew Finn has been appointed as EMEC’s new managing director, having worked at the company for 19 years and serving on the executive team as commercial director for the past five years. Finn brings deep industry expertise and a clear vision for the company’s future, backed by a track record of collaborating with a diverse range of organisations to drive research and technology development.

He has secured over £200 million ($259 million) in funding for projects spanning wave and tidal energy, offshore wind, hydrogen, alternative fuels and islands decarbonisation.

According to an EMEC press release, Finn has been a driving force behind the company’s growth ambitions, with future plans looking at expanding EMEC’s test and demonstration sites for wave and tidal energy to accelerate the progression from prototype demonstrations to array deployments, as well as developing infrastructure to support the burgeoning floating wind sector.

Speaking about taking the helm of EMEC’s leadership team, Matthew Finn, EMEC managing director said: “As an innovation catalyst, EMEC uses its know-how, services and infrastructure to reduce the time, cost, and risk to progress innovative sustainable technologies to market. I am honoured to step into this role alongside such a talented team. Together, we will continue to drive innovation, deliver exceptional value to our customers, and strengthen our position as a global leader.”

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Joining the leadership team is Mark Hamilton who takes on the role of operations and technology director. Hamilton brings a wealth of experience from the tidal energy sector, having served as chief technology officer at Orbital Marine Power for eight years where he led the early design of its floating tidal turbine technology, as well as serving as managing director for two years leading on strategy and commercial development.

Following this he founded Solo Energy, a start-up in the energy systems space which developed a virtual power plant software platform.

On joining EMEC, Mark Hamilton, operations and technology director said: “Having lived in Orkney for over 20 years and worked in renewables during that time, I have witnessed first-hand the growth of EMEC and the major impact it has had in driving forward the marine renewables industry as well as accelerating R&D and commercial activity in many other exciting areas in cleantech. I’m delighted to be joining the executive team and lending my industry knowledge, commercial experience and innovative drive to the team.”

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The leadership team is completed by Donna Ritch, finance director, who continues to provide financial leadership to the company, as well as overseeing HR, IT and support services, and Eileen Linklater, who was promoted to the executive team as corporate affairs director last year to oversee quality, legal, stakeholder engagement and communications.

Whilst stepping aside from the Managing Director position, Neil Kermode, who has led EMEC for the past 20 years, receiving many industry accolades and an OBE for his services to renewable energy and to the community in Orkney, will remain with EMEC to ensure continuity and strategic guidance during the transition. Kermode will continue working at the company to champion support for the sector and a clean energy future.

On passing on the mantle of EMEC’s managing director role, Kermode said: “I am absolutely delighted that Matthew is taking over the reins and he has such a strong and capable team around him. I have loved leading EMEC and I’m confident that as I move back into a more supportive role we will continue to see marine energy develop in Orkney and further afield, and EMEC along with it.”

In this episode of the Energy Transitions podcast, Neil Kermode talks about the origins of tidal and wave energy and how EMEC has played a pivotal role in the development of the marine energy sector.