NEW DELHI: UK-focused Essar Energy Transition (EET) promoted by the Mumbai-based Ruia family, on Wednesday announced the appointment of Ruth Herbert as managing director in charge of business development and strategic initiatives, effective September 16.
A master of physics from the University of Oxford, Ruth holds professional qualifications in programme management and sustainable energy.She brings with her over 15 years of experience in the energy industry wherein she helped shape government policy and fostered partnerships that significantly advanced the industry’s progress.
She moves to EET from the UK’s Carbon Capture Storage Association, where she is the chief executive. At EET, Ruth will be responsible for identifying new business opportunities, forging strategic partnerships and ensuring that the company’s initiatives are in line with the evolving energy landscape.
During her three-year tenure at the helm, CCSA grew from a 50-member body to a 120-member organisation, produced its first UK-wide CCUS delivery plan and grew its presence and profile in the UK and Belgium. Ruth also held several key positions at the UK’s Department of Energy and Climate Change, where she played a pivotal role in the government’s energy policy, including leading negotiations on the EU directive on CO2 storage, international CCUS, and policy coordination, stakeholder engagement and programme management for the UK’s electricity market reform. She has also been a member of the UK government’s CCUS Council and its Industrial Decarbonisation Challenge Advisory Council, as well as the UKCCSRC Advisory Council.
EET also listed among her prior experience the position of director of strategy and development at the Low Carbon Contracts Company, where she was responsible for shaping strategic direction, developing its business plans, managing government affairs and leading external communications.
“We are very excited to have Ruth on board at EET. Through our hydrogen production and decarbonisation projects at Stanlow, we are fully focused on assisting the UK Government to deliver its net zero goals. Ruth’s strong track record of leadership in both decarbonisation policy and practical implementation regimes will be instrumental as we progress our strategic initiatives,” an EET statement quoted managing director Tony Fountain as saying.
“EET’s plans present a huge opportunity for the UK’s North-West to be a trailblazer in the net zero industries of the future and for EET to be at the forefront of the emerging low carbon products market. I’m looking forward to working with the EET team to achieve its long-term objectives and make these ambitions a reality” the EET statement quoted Ruth as saying.
EET is creating the UK’s leading energy transition hub in North-West England and developing $3 billion of projects across a range of low-carbon energy transition projects over the next five years.