Board of Directors

Peter Harris, aged 68, qualified as a chartered accountant having studied at Sheffield University. After a number of years in the accountancy profession he joined Borden Inc., a multinational food packaging and industrial product company, where he spent 13 years in a variety of senior financial roles. In 1994 Peter was appointed as finance director of RAC plc (formerly Lex Service Plc), a leading automotive services provider. In 1999 he became a group managing director of RAC plc, heading a number of businesses including Lex Transfleet, Lex Multipart, Lex Commercials, Lex Defence and RAC Software Solutions. In April 2006, following the acquisition of RAC plc by Aviva plc, Peter was appointed chief executive of Dawson Holdings plc, the media supply chain business, from which he retired in June 2009. Peter is also chairman of Atmaana Business Consulting Ltd and senior advisor to Chetwode SAS, a Paris-based financial services company, and a member of the Advisory Board of Sovam SAS, a French manufacturer of ground support equipment for the aviation industry. He stepped down as a member of the Remuneration and Audit Committees of the Company in 1 April 2021.

Skills and experience

His extensive international business experience in the public company and charity environment, in which he has had experience of all the major executive and non-executive roles, and extensive experience in corporate governance, coupled with his ongoing career in business strategy consultancy, robustly qualify him for the role of Chairman of the Board.

Chris Caldwell, aged 56, joined the Group in 2008 as Rental Manager for the Crestchic Power Reliability division. Since joining Crestchic Chris has taken on positions of ever-increasing responsibility, culminating in his appointment as Managing Director of the division in 2016. Over this time, Chris has led many of the major growth initiatives of the business, including relocating Crestchic Germany to larger premises and bringing the sales agency in house, the start-ups of Crestchic USA and Crestchic France, establishing the UK rental hub in new dedicated premises adjacent to the factory HQ and setting up the Crestchic Service division. He also assisted in the negotiations and subsequent acquisition of Crestchic Transformers from DSG, for which he has now assumed executive responsibility. An electrical engineer by background, with over 30 years of experience in equipment rental, Chris has, during his time at Crestchic, successfully negotiated and overseen many loadbank rental projects around the world. He was previously the National Operations Director at SLD Pumps and Power.

Skills and experience

The Board will benefit from the technical qualifications, skills and experience in electrical engineering that Chris brings, together with his extensive and varied experience in the manufacturing and international sales and rental of electrical equipment. His broad and deep knowledge of the global markets for Crestchic products coupled with his project management skills and leadership qualities will help the Board define and execute a strategic vision for growth and the creation of shareholder value.

Iwan Phillips, aged 36, studied at Warwick University before joining BDO in 2005, where he qualified as a chartered accountant in 2008. He spent five years at BDO, working on the audits of a variety of businesses but specialising in fully listed and AIM companies. Iwan joined Crestchic in 2010 as the Group Accountant and was appointed the Group’s Finance Director in 2016. He was appointed as Company Secretary in 2011.

Skills and experience

Iwan’s professional training and long service, with continually expanding responsibilities, at Crestchic, have given him the skills and experience to bring financial leadership and direction to the Board and to build, on behalf of the Board, secure and constructive relationships with the shareholders, bankers and other financial stakeholders of the Group.

Nitin Kaul, aged 45, studied at King’s College and City Business School before joining Arthur Andersen in 1996, where he worked across various business lines in Europe, Asia and North America. He joined Tomkins plc in 2002 and spent over 13 years with the group in senior finance, M&A and operating roles, including heading various group businesses in the oil and gas vertical.

Skills and experience

His extensive experience in senior roles in multinational businesses gives him the insight required for the chairmanship of the Remuneration Committee, his blend of finance and operational experience brings a relevant perspective to the Audit and Risk Committee and his international experience in senior management and business consultancy, coupled with a broad knowledge of the power and oil and gas markets, is of great value to the Board.

Judith Aldersey-Williams studied at Cambridge and Harvard before qualifying as a solicitor in 1989. She began her career as a commercial and competition lawyer in the City of London with Travers Smith before moving to Aberdeen and joining CMS, where she became a partner in 2007. In 2022, Judith’s role at CMS changed to Of Counsel. In Aberdeen she has specialised in oil and gas law, advising operators and service companies, large and small, on regulatory issues, upstream contracts, procurement and construction contracts, IT and competition law. She is the Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee, Chair of the ESG Committee and a member of the Remuneration Committee.

Skills and experience

Judith’s legal skills and experience in risk management add to the range of professional experience on the Board. Her work in the oil and gas sector puts her at the forefront of complex industry legal issues and has given her a thorough understanding of the way the oil and gas industry works, both in operational and cultural terms, the risks it faces and how these are mitigated, and an insight into the emerging priorities and opportunities of the ESG strategy of the Group which enables her to make a significant contribution to the Board and its Committees.

Stephen Yapp, 63, joined the Group in July 2020. Stephen has 25 years’ experience as a Director of public and private companies over the course of his career.  He is also a former director of Downing Strategic Micro-Cap Investment Trust Plc, as well as several private companies, having held similar roles in other listed companies over recent years.  Stephen is also a Fellow Chartered Management Accountant and holds an MBA. He became the Senior Independent Director on 1 April 2021.

Skills and experience

Alongside his executive career and professional qualifications, Stephen has had wide experience as an independent non-executive Director in industry, financial services and education, with a particular focus on identifying and implementing strategic change to create shareholder value. This, together with his broad finance and leadership experience, equips him to make a significant contribution to the Audit and Risk Committee and the Board.

Nicholas Mills is employed by Harwood Capital LLP, which holds 24% of the Company’s issued share capital. Nicholas joined Harwood Capital LLP in January 2019 after spending five years at Gabelli Asset Management in New York. He acted primarily as a research analyst covering the multi-industrial space and also gained experience in merger arbitrage strategies and marketing closed end funds. He currently sits on the board of Circassia Group Plc and Hargreaves Services Plc as a non-executive director. He has a Bachelor of Science degree from Boston College’s Carroll School of Management.

Skills and experience

An experienced NED, Nicholas brings to the Board a wealth of skills and experience in research, analysis, investment appraisal and fund management together with a deep knowledge of capital markets and is applying his knowledge in support of the Board focus on creating long-term value for all shareholders. 

Amy Avery qualified as a solicitor in 2005 after reading Law at Lancaster University and completing the Legal Practice Course at Manchester Metropolitan University. She specialised in commercial dispute resolution in law firms in the North West of England over the next seven years. In 2013, Amy accepted her first in-house role and joined one of her clients, Bidfresh, which involved establishing the legal function of a leading UK wholesale food supplier to the hotel and restaurant industry. Over the next five years, Amy became a member of the risk committee, was promoted to company secretary and head of legal and qualified as a chartered secretary in 2018. She subsequently undertook legal and governance roles primarily in the education sector. In 2022, Amy became a fellow of The Chartered Governance Institute before she was appointed as Legal Counsel and Company Secretary for the Group.

Skills and experience

Amy’s extensive legal and governance skill-set and industry experience effectively equip her to support the Group on its sustainable growth journey, enhance the Board’s effectiveness and facilitate its navigation of the constantly evolving legal and governance landscape.