New leadership for Cornwall’s Wave Hub project has been agreed following confirmation that Guy Lavender is moving onto pastures new.

Claire Gibson, currently South West RDA Director of Sustainable Resources, will take over as interim Wave Hub General Manager with the announcement that Guy has been appointed Chief Executive of Somerset County Cricket Club. Claire has been involved with Wave Hub for a number of years and helped steer the project through its funding and planning consent stages.

Wave Hub is now installed 10 miles off the North Cornish coast and the operations team is working with commercial partners to support the demonstration of wave energy devices that generate electricity from the  power of waves.  Its first customer, Ocean Power Technologies, intends to deploy a device next year and discussions are continuing with a number of other device developers in the UK and overseas.

“Wave Hub is at an exciting stage of its development so I’m looking forward to working with our commercial partners,” said Claire.

“It remains a very important renewable energy project for Cornwall, South West England and the whole of the UK.  Guy has overseen Wave Hub’s construction while being an enthusiastic champion for all it has to offer and we wish him well in his new role.

“Part of my job in taking over from Guy will be to ensure we put in place the right long-term management arrangements to lead the safe and efficient operation of Wave Hub, support a growing marine energy sector and deliver economic benefits for Cornwall and the UK.”

Guy Lavender said:  “Wave Hub has been a fascinating project to lead.  In many ways, I will be sad to leave at this stage of its development and there are very few jobs that could have lured me away, but I have every confidence that all the ingredients are now in place for its successful future. ”

Claire will combine leadership of the Wave Hub project with her remaining work at the South West RDA which is now being steadily wound down ahead of closure in March 2012.   Guy will remain in post into May to help ensure a smooth transition.