Director of Renewable Energy

The Client

Nephin Energy is Ireland’s largest domestic producer of natural gas and owns a 43.5% interest in the Corrib gas field. Nephin was looking at a variety of strategic business development opportunities in the Irish and UK energy market and identified the renewable gas sector as one which provides unique synergies with Nephin’s existing business and position in the market. With their vision to become a leading renewable gas producer in Ireland and the UK, Nephin was looking for a suitable candidate to drive the build out of their Renewable Gas business.

The Challenge

We were seeking an experienced leader from the renewable gas sector, someone with deep technical expertise in the areas of feedstock/digestate management and AD plant management and hands-on experience in the development, day-to-day operation, and optimisation of RNG assets. Nephin wanted this person to be based in Ireland with the ability to travel extensively across Ireland to liaise with key stakeholders. The successful candidate would be responsible for building out the RNG team at Nephin, play a key strategic role in Nephin’s leadership team, and work closely with the Board of the Pension Fund. The talent pool in Ireland was incredibly small.

The Solution

The Morgan McKinley Executive Search team was tasked with finding, through our robust executive search process, an entrepreneurial, commercial, and technically qualified individual for the role. We were seeking a unique blend of talent and experience in terms of a technically qualified individual in a niche area, coupled with the commercial experience and strategic ability to scale this new business area for Nephin. Morgan McKinley Executive Search spread our net wide across Ireland, the UK, and mainland Europe and found an exceptional candidate based in the UK who relocated to Ireland. This candidate was able to bring their existing network connections and international expertise into the Irish market and has already begun building out the renewable business.