New team at helm of influential ‘offshore’ business group
A new all-industry board aims to steer Humber Marine & Renewables to its next phase of growth.
The regional business development organisation, which is the result of a recent merger between Team Humber Marine Alliance and Grimsby Renewables Partnership, revealed the line-up on September 7 at a networking event.
Iain Butterworth, a Scarborough-based maritime lawyer and director of marine consultancy Butterworth Marine, becomes chairman, taking the ropes from maritime lawyer Andrew Oliver who stepped down after the organisation’s successful 10-year anniversary of its flagship conference Offshore Wind Connections in May.
The other new board members are Kurt Christensen, a pioneer in Grimsby’s offshore wind industry and former Danish consul for the town; Nick Murphy, UK sales and marketing manager of Torque Solutions; David Bacon, managing director of Bacon Engineering and Rob Langton, managing director of MMS Ship Repairs.
They join longstanding board members, Camilla Carlbom Flinn, who is a director at Pentagon Marine, and maritime industry veteran Graham Billany, a former director of Team Humber Marine Alliance.
The additional outgoing board members are Jonathan Goolden, a partner at Wilkin Chapman Solicitors, and Katharine York, a manager at ORE Catapult. Both played key roles in the 2022 merger.
Butterworth, who has been involved for more than 20 years throughout the organisation’s evolution, said: “We are a powerful advocate for the Humber and North Yorkshire and have been instrumental in the development of the offshore wind sector and regional maritime supply chain.
“I am proud to have been chosen to play a significant role in its future growth.
“I want to help us to expand beyond our historical geographical boundary by capitalising on our established Scarborough office and all the valuable connections the location brings.
“There is a large area between Tyneside, Teesside and the Humber, with many companies having the resources and potential to assist the vibrant offshore renewables industry, so we will be working to connect these businesses to bring economic benefits to the wider region and Humber Marine & Renewables further north.
“Enhancing opportunities for current members is also a key priority along with growing the membership in all the sectors that we cover.”
Carlbom Flinn said: “Our new board has a vast array of industry skills and international connections, and we are thrilled to have such a strong team in place for the next chapter of our development.
“I want to take this opportunity to wholeheartedly thank Andrew Oliver, Jonathan Goolden and Kathryn York for their fantastic contribution over the last three years.”
The death of long-serving board member Frank Butterfield, owner of marine satellite communications company Best Service (Europe) Ltd, was announced in July.
