Who we are

The Xlinks team is comprised of individuals from a broad range of backgrounds, but with one thing in common – a drive to change the way we think about the low carbon energy transition.

The Board

Executive Chair

Sir Dave Lewis
Vice-Chair

Paddy Padmanathan
CEO

Simon Morrish
Non Executive Director

Sir Ian Davis
Non Executive Director

Fabienne Serfaty

Executive Chair

Sir Dave Lewis

Sir Dave Lewis is the former CEO of Tesco PLC (2014 to 2020) and before that he spent 27 years at Unilever plc, the last seven of which were on the executive committee. He was knighted in 2021 for his services to industry.

Vice-Chair

Paddy Padmanathan

President and CEO, ACWA Power, a world-leading developer, investor and operator of power generation assets and water-desalination assets valued at $45 Billion. 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.

CEO

Simon Morrish

Simon founded Xlinks in 2019, but for the past 17 years his main focus has been building up Ground Control Ltd to be a highly respected, multi award-winning environmental services business looking after over 50,000 sites in the UK. 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 Inc. He is also a Non-Executive Director of Johnson & Johnson, Senior Independent Director of Majid Al Futtaim Holdings and is a senior advisor to several private firms and companies.

From 2013-2021 he was Chairman of Rolls-Royce plc. From 2010-2020 he was a Non-Executive Director of BP plc where he was also the Senior Independent (Lead) Director. From 2011-2017 he was a Non-Executive Director of the UK Cabinet Office and of Teach for All, an educational not-for-profit. Ian is Senior Partner Emeritus of McKinsey & Company, where he was a consultant and partner for over 30 years. He served as Chairman and Worldwide Managing Partner of McKinsey between 2003 and 2009.

 

Non Executive Director

Fabienne Serfaty

Fabienne is a business entrepreneur fiercely committed to net-zero and decarbonising the grid. She draws on 30 years’ experience in strategic consulting and impact investing, including McKinsey in Germany, the EBRD in London and the net-zero consulting firm she founded. Her expert focus is on systemic change and organisational transformation. She advises and invests in SMEs and Start-ups across Europe, mostly in the fields of e-mobility, renewable energy, and SaaS. She has served on the boards of multiple NGOs, including, in the UK, Clientearth Environmental Lawyers, Ashoka Social Entrepreneurs and the Fredericks Foundation.

Our Leadership Team

Morocco Chair

Dayae Oudghiri
Project Director, HVDC Transmission

Nigel Williams
Project Director

Richard Hardy
General Counsel

Kate Kortenbout
Finance Director

Dereka Symes
Strategy Director

Jaime Alvarez
Brand & Communications Director

David Edwards

Morocco Chair

Dayae Oudghiri

Starting her career as an investment banker, Dayae has 360° experience of setting up and developing large-scale projects in the renewable energy sector throughout Morocco. She has also held multiple Non-Executive Director positions in listed and non-listed companies across the world.

Project Director, HVDC 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.

Project Director

Richard Hardy

Previously at KiwiPower where he worked as the UK Programme Manager before becoming the Growth Strategy and Innovation Champion. The role included market analysis and strategic planning as well as engaging with organisations such as BEIS, Ofgem and National Grid.

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.

Finance Director

Dereka Symes

A chartered accountant, trained at Andersens, and has over 30 years’ experience in finance and accountancy. Dereka has worked as head of finance in several SMEs including Ground Control and Field & Trek, a multichannel retailer of outdoor clothing and equipment.

Strategy Director

Jaime Alvarez

Co-Founder of Faro Energy and as CxO/advisor for dynamic energy start-ups such as Rensource, Enerbuild and Clean Energy Associates.

Jamie’s previous experience includes 15 years in private equity and strategic consulting in leading institutions such as Coller Capital, the EBRD and McKinsey & Co. He has an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Brand & Communications Director

David Edwards

David is a Global Marketing & Communications expert with over 20 years’ experience of building, developing and growing brands. He has worked for international B2B businesses and more recently in Private Equity portfolio company management roles.

Our Advisors

Advisor

Mohamed Sahri
Board Advisor

Oliver Soper
Board Advisor

Yoav Zingher
Board Advisor

Ian Douglas

Advisor

Mohamed Sahri

Mohamed is a renewable energy expert, focusing on large scale projects development and financing. Previous experience includes 11 years in development, project finance and strategic consulting in leading institutions such as Masen and AFD.

Board Advisor

Oliver Soper

Founder of OST Energy, a renewable energy engineering consultancy, with unique insight into global renewable energy project delivery and operations. Advised governments, utilities, banks, and infrastructure investors on c. 2,000 projects totalling 30GW of generation in over 30 countries.

Board Advisor

Yoav Zingher

Serial entrepreneur, technologist, financier and angel investor across multiple industries, in particular green energy. Previously founder and CEO of KiWi Power, the UK’s leading smart grid company, prior to sale to Engie. Currently founder and CEO of LaunchPad. MBA from London Business School.

Board Advisor

Ian Douglas

CEO of Global Marine, the leading provider of subsea cabling services, since 2011. One of only a handful of western businessmen to receive the Friendship Award – the highest honour awarded by the Chinese Government for contributions to China.