Former SSE Renewables chief joins COWI as Renewable Energy Ambassador

Former SSE Executive Jim Smith joins us as Renewable Energy Ambassador. Jim recently retired as Managing Director of SSE Renewables and has more than 30 years’ experience in several senior roles in power generation development, construction, operations and trading in the UK and Ireland’s electricity industry.

Jim will fulfill this part-time role at COWI, taking part in industry events, meeting customers, and acting as an adviser to the energy team as COWI looks to expand the business.

Andy Sloan, Managing Director, COWI in the UK said: “We are delighted to have Jim on board, he brings with him a wealth of experience across a range of technologies, with significant focus on hydro and on and offshore wind. Jim has been instrumental in growing SSE’s renewables business into one of the UK and Ireland’s largest and successful renewable generators. With COWI’s strategy of expanding activity in this area Jim will be a fantastic addition to the team in helping us to realise those ambitions.”

Commenting on his role Jim said: “I’m very much looking forward to working with COWI, who I now from my own experience is a world-class professional engineering organisation focussed on meeting the needs of customers, and which I am looking forward to playing a part in.”

Before retiring from SSE, Jim was also a member of the Group Executive Committee and the Group Investment and Market Risk Committees. Chair of the SSE Renewables Executive Committee, Chair

of the Executive Safety Health & Environment Committee and a member of the Board Safety, Health and Environment Advisory Committee.

Since retiring Jim has stayed active in the industry with a few non-executive roles for Noriker Power Ltd, a battery storage developer/operator and Seabank Power, a CCGT IPP. He has recently agreed to act as independent Chair of Opportunity Cromarty Firth, a consortium bidding to become one of the UK’s new freeports.