Navitus Bay makes changes to project team as planning phase heads to a close

Navitus Bay today announced a number of senior team changes as the project nears the end of the planning phase. Mike Unsworth leaves the project on 7 August to join the new Tidal Lagoon Project in Swansea Bay and Stuart Grant will become Project Director. Navitus Bay’s senior team is also bolstered by the appointment of a new Implementation Manager and Deputy Project Director as the project prepares for a decision on consent from the Secretary of State on 11 September.

Mike Unsworth leaves Navitus Bay after three years leading the project through the development stage and to the point of a decision on consent. He will be replaced as Project Director by Stuart Grant, who has in-depth knowledge of the project and has worked in partnership with Mike since April 2012. Stuart has more than 20 years’ experience in the development and construction of major infrastructure projects. He has been part of the Navitus Bay team since the bid stage in 2009.

Mark Kempers has been appointed Implementation Manager as the project nears the end of the planning phase. Mark joins from Eneco Wind and already has first-hand experience of Navitus Bay having been Engineering Manager from July 2010 until September 2013. The new Deputy Project Director, responsible for the project’s finance, will join the team in September.

Mike Unsworth, outgoing Project Director of Navitus Bay, said: “Navitus Bay has the potential to make major, positive changes to communities right across the south coast. It’s been a fantastic project to work on for the past three years and I’m hugely proud of the progress we’ve made. Stuart is the perfect person to take over as Project Director and nobody understands Navitus Bay better. Mark is a great addition to the senior team given his understanding of Navitus Bay and offshore wind more generally. This is particularly important as we await a decision from the Secretary of State.”

Stuart Grant, incoming Project Director of Navitus Bay, added: “It’s been a pleasure working with Mike for the past three years as he successfully steered Navitus Bay through the development phase and to the point of a decision on consent. I look forward to carrying on his great work and leading the team on to the next phase. This is a hugely exciting time for the project as the benefits that the proposed windfarm could bring become increasingly tangible. We’ve seen this recently with the MHI Vestas Offshore Wind turbine supplier announcement and the 200 jobs on the Isle of Wight that would be safeguarded as well as the £8.6 million skills and supply chain funding we just announced.”