Team
Michael King - Chief Executive Officer
Michael has worked in the renewable sector since 1996. Prior to becoming CEO of Island Renewable Energy in 2009, Michael was 9 years as a Director and Chief Operating Officer of NTR Plc where he was a key member of the team in transforming NTR from an Irish based infrastructure entity to an international renewable and environmental services business. While at NTR, Michael helped grow Airtricity from being a small Irish start-up to a large international developer and operator of wind assets. Airtricity was ultimately sold by NTR in 2008 for EUR 2.2bln. Michael has a Masters in Engineering from Galway National University of Ireland and an MBA from Dublin City University. Michael is a former board member of Airtricity Holdings Limited and Wind Capital Group Llc and currently a non-executive director in a number of other renewable energy development entities.
Dave Geary - Chief Financial Officer
Prior to joining Island in 2009 as CFO, Dave had spent the previous seven years working with NTR Plc, formerly as Group Treasurer and latterly as CFO of NTR's Biofuel/Bioenergy business (Bioverda). As NTR Group Treasurer, Dave was responsible for NTR’s early stage corporate and project finance across its businesses, including Airtricity, Greenstar, Roads and Bioverda. While at NTR Dave was responsible for raising over EUR 1bln in funding from a variety of Irish and International Financial Institutions. As CFO of NTR's Biofuel business, Dave was responsible for all finance activities including corporate finance (equity investment, joint ventures, acquisitions, mergers, divestments, project finance), reporting & governance routines as well as oversight of operating subsidiaries. Dave previously worked with GE Capital, Amerada Hess and Chevron Corporation in a number of senior finance roles. Dave holds a B Comm from University College Dublin and is a qualified accountant.
Aidan Sweeney - Chief Technical Officer
Aidan has 30 years in the electricity generation business with 15 years working in the renewable energy sector in Ireland, UK, Europe and USA. Prior to joining Island, Aidan worked with Eco Wind Power Ltd. (a Viridian Plc owned entity) as Chief Operating Officer and MD, having joined them from the Irish Utility ESB International. While in Eco Wind Power Aidan had direct responsibility for developing 1000MW of offshore wind and has developed, built and operated over 250MW of renewable assets (specialising in onshore wind farms) with a pipeline of another 1000MW in Ireland/UK. Aidan’s core technical expertise is grid/transmission solution provision and has worked extensively on overseas assignments on energy projects for ESBI. Aidan holds an Electrical Engineering degree from University College Dublin and is a Chartered Engineer with the Institute of Engineers of Ireland.
Paulo Amante - Director Southern Europe
Paulo has spent the last 10 years in the Renewable Energy sector where he has been involved in senior roles both in development and project management with a number of international wind energy businesses. Prior to joining Island, Paulo was Renewable Energy Director at Coillte, the Irish state body responsible for forestry development. From March 2008 to December 2009, Paulo worked as head of development South America for Mainstream Renewable Energy, and from 2003 until March 2008 with Airtricty in leading development and project engineering roles. Paulo’s experience also extends from on-site construction, technical electrical assessments to engineering procurement for complex works. Paulo has been involved in the development of wind assets in Iberia, Ireland and most recently South Africa and South America. Paulo is a Portuguese national and holds an Electrical Engineering Degree as well as a number of other professional qualifications.
Nikolay Nikolov - Director South East Europe
Prior to joining Island in 2009, Nikolay had been involved in the inception and development of a number of start up businesses in his career. Since 2008, Nikolay has been focusing his efforts on originating, funding and developing renewable energy projects in South East Europe. Nikolay is a former Executive Director and board member of Mobiltel AD, Bulgaria’s leading mobile telecommunications company. Nikolay oversaw the leveraged buyout of Mobiltel in 2004 by a large group of renowned private equity investors among which Citigroup Venture Capital, ABN Amro Capital and Sandler Capital for a total consideration of EUR 1.2bln. Mobiltel was further sold to Telekom Austria in 2005 for an Enterprise Value of EUR 1.6bln. Nikolay is a former Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications, a former member of the Bulgarian parliament and Board Chair of the incumbent fixed line telecom. Nikolay serves as a board member on a number of small technology businesses as well as Board of Trustees of the American University in Bulgaria. Nikolay is an Economics and Business Administration graduate from the American University in Bulgaria.
Angel Nikolov - Country Director Bulgaria
Prior to joining Island in 2009, Angel had been working in the renewable energy industry since 2008 mainly focussed on the Bulgarian and Romanian markets. In this period he has conducted project evaluation, financial modelling, and due diligence of over 1 GW of Solar and Wind projects in close association with some of the leading international wind advisories. Angel has exceptional operational management background, serving as Director and the Chief Operating Officer of Gamebookers, a global internet betting company and before that as the COO of Melon Technologies, a software development company. Angel is also one of the founders of Bulventures SME IT Fund, a private investment vehicle focussed on start-up financing for high-tech companies. Angel is a Business Administration graduate from the American University in Bulgaria.
John Keane - Development Manager
Prior to joining Island in September 2010, John had spent the previous 3 years plus with NTR Plc Group in leading the development of renewable energy projects. More recently as Business Development Manager, for Greenstar UK, John led the development process for the energy from waste bids into 6 UK PFI projects. John’s role involved the full technical and financial assessments for these projects, as well as developing and establishing relationships with the local government bodies and other commercial partners in the projects. John also has extensive experience as commercial manager, project manager, and engineering manager while working with Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Vistakon Ireland and Odenberg Engineering Group. John has an honours Engineering degree from University College Dublin and a Post Graduate Diploma in Project Management from Trinity College Dublin.