The appointments come just over a year after Mr McAulay joined the recycling and waste management business from MWH Global, after previous work with United Utilitie,s and today’s appointments form part of his reshaping of the company which handles more than 2 million tonnes of materials a year. Viridor is also to have an additional management base in Manchester.
The new appointments see Paul Ringham, previously with BT, becoming Viridor’s commercial director. And, Phillip Piddington is to head up the company’s energy activities as chief operating officer – energy. He joins from German electric utilities company RWE.
Viridor chief executive Ian McAulay said: “I’m pleased to welcome new colleagues of such high calibre and we all look forward to working with them. Paul’s and Phillip’s expertise and experience will provide valuable additions to the Viridor team in these key areas for our ambitious business.”
And, the company said that the appointments reflect its ambitious growth strategy and its current “£1.5 billion investment programme in recycling and energy recovery infrastructure”.
The appointment of Mr Ringham strengthens the company on the financial and technology side. Recently it has been grappling with changing markets for recyclables and also has to face up to the continuing financial challenges of being a plc.
Mr Ringham also has local authority experience from his time at BT and is a qualified chartered accountant. In the past he has commented that local government knows it needs to innovate “but often lacks the time and in many cases the skills to make a real difference.”
Investment
Mr Ringham said: “I am excited to be joining Viridor at this time. Following its recent investment programme I believe Viridor is ideally placed to take the advantage of the new opportunities that are developing in our market place. This will lead to even greener and more efficient services for customers, whilst also benefitting our colleagues and our stakeholders.”
Mr Piddington is currently director of Biomass RWE Innogy and MD of RWE Innogy Cogen and is responsible for the international biomass business of RWE with plants and offices in Germany, the UK, Italy, Spain and the USA. He has a degree in Applied Chemistry and a MBA, with a record of high achievement within the energy, chemical and managed services industries, Viridor said.
The appointment of Mr Piddington is seen as crucial to the future of Viridor which is rolling out a series of energy from waste plants and needs them all to contribute positively to the performance of the company in the face of weaker commodity prices for recyclables and because of less demand for landfill.
Mr Piddington said: “I’m delighted to be joining Viridor. The Energy Division provides an advantaged growth platform in the alternative energy sector, providing a source of long-term, decentralised, base-load and largely renewable energy. This will help increase our nation’s security of supply, providing competitively priced heat and power whilst lowering overall UK emissions.
On the energy from waste side, the company’s EfW director, Stuart Sim, will report into Mr Piddington.
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