Richard Bennett

Executive Chairman

Richard Bennett has extensive business and listed company experience over a career spanning 30 years. During that time, he has worked for General Electric in Asia and the US and co-founded and listed on NASDAQ J2Global, an internet telecoms business currently valued at US$4.5 billion. He has worked in executive, chairman and non-executive roles with a series of highly successful growth-focused technology and clean energy companies, including the AIM-quoted wireless technology company, MTI Wireless Edge.

Andrew Darbyshire

Finance Director

Andrew started his accounting and finance career at Garbutt & Elliott and went on to work in audit for Grant Thornton. Andrew joined Getech in 2014, to establish their new finance team and was appointed to the Board in February 2018. Andrew has a master’s degree in Mathematics from the University of York and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, he is also the treasurer for the charity, Live Music Now – Northeast.

Andrew Darbyshire
Chris Jepps

Chris Jepps

Chief Operating Officer

Chris has extensive petroleum industry, GIS and entrepreneurial experience, having worked within integrated exploration teams at Shell, as a professional services consultant at Landmark Graphics and as Technical Director at Exprodat where Chris established the company’s technical strategy and led its software design and development. Following Exprodat’s acquisition by Getech Group plc in 2016, Chris joined as Products Director, becoming Getech Group plc COO in February 2018. Chris has a BSc in Geology from Imperial College, London, and is an alumnus of Esri’s Partner Advisory Council.

Stuart Paton

Non-Executive Director

Stuart holds several advisory roles, including with GLG and Reform Scotland. He has previously been an advisor for Lime Rock Partners and Berwick’s Consulting. Stuart was the Technical and Commercial Director and CEO of Dana Petroleum, delivering several acquisitions for them. Before joining Dana, he held a number of roles at Shell. Stuart has a BA in Earth Sciences and a PhD in Geology from Cambridge University.

Stuart Paton

Michael Covington

Non-Executive Director

Michael has over 25 years’ experience in corporate advisory and broking with international investment banks and financial and strategic consulting. In the last 16 years, his activities have included co-founding Solar Securities, one of the UK’s first solar project developers, advising energy transition sector participants, and holding non-executive board positions including with Enertechnos Holdings Ltd., a power transmission technology player. He has also been an active investor at all stages of the value chain in European CleanTech & Renewables with Sustainable Investments Capital, Alpha Real Capital and is currently Investment Director at Bluefield Partners LLP, investment adviser to Bluefield Solar Income Fund plc. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1994 with PwC.

Emma Parker

Non-Executive Director

Emma has more than 18 years’ experience as an Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and mining operations specialist. Emma is currently Principal in charge of Sustainable Business Opportunities at Anglo American PLC, a multi-national, multi-commodity mining company. At Anglo American, Emma is responsible for identifying and delivering commercial value, leveraging Anglo American’s sustainability practices across areas of business development, marketing, and finance. In particular, her role focuses on leading innovative approaches to sustainability-led value creation, responsible sourcing and ethical value chains.