Xlinks Limited Board

CHAIR

Paddy Padmanathan
BOARD DIRECTOR

Simon Morrish
Non-Executive Director

Sir Ian Davis
Non-Executive Director

Mark Budd

CHAIR

Paddy Padmanathan

Paddy is the Chair and an investor in Xlinks. Previously, he was the President and CEO of ACWA Power, a company he led from a startup 18 years ago to when he stepped down in March 2023, which is listed with a market cap of US50+ billion, a world-leading developer, investor and operator of power generation and water-desalination assets and now constructing the world’s first at scale green hydrogen complex, a portfolio valued in excess of $75 billion, and with extensive experience in solar PV and onshore wind in desert environments across North Africa and the Middle East, including the largest solar power developments in Morocco.

BOARD DIRECTOR

Simon Morrish

Simon founded Xlinks in 2019, spearheading the concept and development of the Morocco-UK Power Project, before moving into the role of Group CEO, Xlinks Limited where he is responsible for growing the Xlinks portfolio of projects.

Previously, Simon built Ground Control Ltd, a highly respected, multi award-winning environmental services business looking after over 50,000 sites in the UK. He also founded Skyports Ltd, a leader in electric aviation infrastructure and drone deliveries. He was awarded the EY Entrepreneur of the Year award for Transformational leadership in 2018.

Simon is an ex-McKinsey consultant and Morgan Stanley Derivatives analyst. He holds a master’s degree with Distinction in Economics, Engineering and Management from Oxford University and an MBA degree with Honours from Harvard Business School.

Non-Executive Director

Sir Ian Davis

Ian Davis is currently Chairman of Thoughtworks Holdings Inc. He is also Senior Independent Director of Majid Al Futtaim Holdings and is an advisor to several private firms and nonprofit organisations.

From 2013-2021 he was Chairman of Rolls-Royce plc. From 2010-2023 he was Non- Executive Director of Johnson & Johnson Inc. and from 2010-2020 he was a Non-Executive Director of BP plc where he was also Senior Independent (Lead) Director. Between 2011- 2017 he was a Non-Executive Director of the UK Cabinet Office, of Teach for All, an educational non profit and Big Society Capital.

Non-Executive Director

Mark Budd

Mark Budd has been working with Xlinks since 2020 and sits on the board. Prior to joining Xlinks, Mark was a partner at TDR Capital, a top-decile European Private Equity fund, from 2005-2020 where he helped them grow from £500m to £8bn AUM while being directly involved in c£10bn of deals across the business services, financial services and consumer sectors.

Xlinks Executive Management Team

CEO

James Humfrey
Managing Director, Transmission

Nigel Williams
General Counsel

Kate Kortenbout
Chief Investment Officer

Hamish McPherson
MANAGING DIRECTOR

Mohamed Sahri
Chief Marketing Officer

Bella Vuillermoz
SECURITY DIRECTOR

Andy Harrison

CEO

James Humfrey

James has over 25 years’ experience in the Energy Industry, most recently as EVP for Growth and Industry in ADNOC in Abu Dhabi, where he led capital project development and business development including the development of the new $25 billion Chemical Park in Ruwais. He also led ADNOC’s New Energies Division, developing the region’s first world scale Blue Ammonia plant and CCS pilot and delivered the acquisition of a stake in Masdar (an International Renewable Generation Company with 20GW portfolio) and the formation of Masdar Green Hydrogen. He has served on the Boards of Infineum and Masdar Green Hydrogen.

Previously, James held senior roles at Shell, with his last as SVP Downstream M&A. He was also previously in charge of Shell’s Global Capital Projects Contracting (including the $14 billion Canada LNG EPC LS contract) and Chemicals Capital Projects.

Managing Director, Transmission

Nigel Williams

Nigel is a senior power industry executive with over 30 years’ experience in the UK and overseas covering operational, commercial and construction roles. Formerly head of Electricity Operations based in National Grid’s control centre.  He led the successful €2b North Sea Link UK to Norway interconnector project from development to completion, to time and budget.

General Counsel

Kate Kortenbout

Kate is a solicitor qualified in England and Wales, with over 18 years’ experience advising on energy and infrastructure projects. Kate previously worked in the London office of an international legal practice.

Chief Investment Officer

Hamish McPherson

Hamish is the Chief Investment Officer of Xlinks. He has over 20 years’ experience in the energy transition sector and prior to joining Xlinks he was the Managing Director of ForMotion, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Bioenergy Infrastructure Group and Partner at Aurium Capital, Walbrook Capital and C12 Capital. Until 2008, he was Head of SCM US Markets at Barclays Capital in New York. He holds a Master of Engineering from the University of Cambridge.

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Mohamed Sahri

Mohamed is a renewable energy expert, focusing on large scale projects development and financing. Previous experience includes 14 years in development, project finance and strategic consulting in leading institutions such as Masen and AFD.

Chief Marketing Officer

Bella Vuillermoz

Bella brings over 25 years of experience in the UK and Europe, across strategy, marketing, communications, sustainability, commercial and operations, at two FTSE100 companies, Sky and M&S, as well as in consultancy.

SECURITY DIRECTOR

Andy Harrison

Andy is the Security Director of Xlinks. Having begun his career as an economist, he brings 38 years of distinguished service in the British Army, serving on operations and in senior military appointments across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Australia and the United States.

He concluded his military career as a Lieutenant General and Colonel Commandant of the Parachute Regiment. Andy has been appointed a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order and a Member of the Order of the British Empire. He was decorated on 18 occasions by the UK, United States and South Korea for operational service.

He is a recognised authority on information operations, crisis management and sub-surface warfare, and has written extensively on coalition operations and information warfare. His history of the United Nations Command was published in 2023, and he is currently completing his second book.