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New Energies Development Manager, UK
THE CHALLENGE
Miramar was retained by the CEO of an energy group with the ambition to become Europe’s leading integrated energy transition hub. As part of a $3.6B investment, including $2.4B in the Northwest of England, the client is building out critical infrastructure for low-carbon fuels, hydrogen distribution, CO₂ shipping, and green freight corridors. With such a bold transformation underway, the business needed to bring in a New Energies Development Manager to commercially lead the advancement of its energy transition project pipeline.
The position would report directly to the CEO and play a critical role in driving the commercialisation of strategic decarbonisation projects. The incoming leader would take full ownership from feasibility through to execution readiness, working in lockstep with engineering, project delivery, and executive leadership. This required a highly capable operator with both commercial savvy and technical fluency in New Energies domains such as biofuels, hydrogen, and CO₂ transportation.
The client needed someone who is capable of turning early-stage feasibility into actionable projects, managing permitting and EPC strategies, aligning stakeholders across commercial, technical, and operational areas, with entrepreneurial drive to advance net-zero goals.
THE SOLUTION
Miramar conducted a pan-European search targeting individuals with direct experience in the New Energies landscape, focusing on professionals involved in the commercial development of hydrogen, SAF, bio-methanol, and related infrastructure. Markets spanned integrated energy companies, industrial gas producers, infrastructure developers, and clean-tech ventures. A key insight emerged early: while technical depth was important, the real differentiator would be the candidate’s ability to build stakeholder alignment and translate vision into viable, board-ready business cases.
We targeted individuals wiexperience in commercial or project delivery roles within UK or EU-based New Energies projects. The evaluation process focused on candidates skilled at managing diverse stakeholders, driving projects from concept to execution, with a strong focus on sustainability and practical innovation.
They were assessed for their ability to communicate across technical and non-technical audiences, manage feasibility studies, and structure capital-intensive projects that aligned with long-term ESG strategies.
THE RESULT
A shortlist of four high-calibre candidates was delivered within five weeks. The pool represented a diverse and balanced mix of talent from across the hydrogen, industrial gas, and energy infrastructure ecosystem. Following two rounds of interviews and a technical case study, the CEO and senior leadership team aligned around a standout candidate with commercial hydrogen project experience, a deep understanding of regulatory environments, and strong project execution credentials.
The impact
Within weeks of joining, the new hire began advancing our client’s hydrogen and CO₂ shipping initiatives, streamlining feasibility activities, aligning key internal stakeholders, and preparing two strategic projects for board-level review. They also enhanced cross-functional collaboration between the engineering and commercial teams, bringing much-needed pace and clarity to the development pipeline. The individual’s entrepreneurial mindset and sustainability focus have made them a cultural asset during a pivotal transformation phase.
Following the success of this placement, Miramar continues to work closely with our client as a trusted search partner, supporting further strategic hires tied to the company’s bold decarbonization roadmap.
