A Siemens executive who played a leading role in securing Hull鈥檚 offshore wind turbine blade factory has been appointed as CEO of trade body Renewable海角视频.
Dan McGrail succeeds a man he was in negotiations with to land the 拢310 million investment on the Humber Bank; former civil servant Hugh McNeal.
Currently chief executive of Siemens Engines, he will take up his post in May, joining former Grimsby MP Melanie Onn, installed last year as deputy.
He said 鈥淚鈥檓 very excited to be taking up this new role representing over 400 of the most dynamic companies working in the entire energy sector.
鈥淩enewable海角视频鈥檚 members are driving the energy transition faster than anyone could have predicted, from our world-leading offshore wind industry to onshore wind and innovative marine power, energy storage and renewable hydrogen. We鈥檒l need all these technologies to get to net zero at the lowest cost for consumers, and I can鈥檛 wait to start working with Renewable海角视频 members as they invest in projects across the country, create thousands of new jobs and grow the 海角视频 supply chain in the years ahead.鈥
As reported, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has raised the bar for installation of offshore wind in the pursuit to make the 海角视频 the 鈥楽audi Arabia鈥 of green energy.
Predecessor Mr McNeal said: 鈥淲e鈥檝e come a long way in the last few years and wind energy is at the heart of our future energy system.
鈥淩enewable海角视频 is delivering for our members and I鈥檓 confident that it will go from strength to strength with Dan in charge. He will be an outstanding CEO; he鈥檚 a creative entrepreneur with an exceptionally strong track record on bringing the industrial benefits of wind energy to the 海角视频 at scale. Having worked closely with him on the Hull project, I know how much he cares about continuing to expand the supply chain as a priority for the industry.鈥
Mr McGrail joined Siemens 海角视频 in 2004 and has worked in a variety of roles across the energy industry. Between 2010 and 2014 he led Siemens鈥 plans to develop and invest in offshore wind turbine manufacturing in the 海角视频, negotiating with the 海角视频 government and overseeing one of the company鈥檚 most significant factory investments in its recent history.
The final investment decision of 拢160 million was announced in 2014, alongside a 拢150 million investment by Associated British Ports to revitalise Hull鈥檚 Alexandra Dock.
As managing director of Siemens Power Generation from 2014, he expanded 海角视频 activities in the thermal power market. He became chief executive of Siemens Engines in late 2017, leading the rebranding of the company and helping to secure significant growth.
Renewable海角视频鈥檚 chair, Stephen Bull, said: 鈥淒an is joining us at a crucial time for the sector, as the Prime Minister has put the growth of renewables at the heart of his plans for a green industrial revolution.
"Our industry will create tens of thousands of highly-skilled jobs and become the backbone of the 海角视频鈥檚 modern energy system over the course of this decade. Dan is passionate about the energy transition and about creating an open, inclusive and diverse working environment which will attract talented people from a wide range of backgrounds to join us as we build the energy system of the future.鈥
Mr McGrail is vice chair of the Association of Decentralised Energy and served as chair of the association from 2016 to 2019. He set up the Heat Network Industry Council to engage politicians and drive policy reform to build zero carbon heat networks.
He graduated from Liverpool John Moores University in 2003 with a degree in International Business Studies and Spanish. During his studies he spent a year at the University of Alicante. After graduating, he qualified with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. More recently he completed the CBI Leadership programme, in London, Brussels and Washington DC.
He has two young children and in his spare time he is a keen golfer, musician, and a season ticket holder at Liverpool FC. He enjoys cooking and travelling - Spain again featuring strongly.
