Connected Places Catapult has announced the appointment of Darran Messem and Gareth Powell as new Non-Executive Directors to its Board. The appointments are aimed at strengthening the board’s expertise in transport, sustainability, and urban development.
Darran Messem brings extensive experience from the transport, energy, and built environment sectors. He currently serves as a director of the Vehicle Certification Agency, Shoreham Port Authority, and the construction technology start-up Net Zero Projects. His previous roles include positions at the Carbon Trust, Shell, British Airways, and the Office of Rail and Road (ORR).
Gareth Powell is the Managing Director at London Stansted Airport. Before joining MAG, the UK’s largest airports group, he spent 19 years at Transport for London (TfL), where he served as Deputy Commissioner and Chief Customer and Strategy Officer, leading the organisation’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. He also held key roles as Managing Director of Surface Transport and Chief Operating Officer of London Rail.
Professor Greg Clark CBE, Chair of the Board at Connected Places Catapult, said: “I am very pleased to welcome Darran and Gareth to the Board at Connected Places Catapult. Their powerful combination of experience will serve to further strengthen the expertise and counsel that the Board is able to provide. I’d like to extend the Board’s gratitude to Becky Wood who, in her short tenure, provided exceptional stewardship at a pivotal moment for the Catapult which will have a lasting impact. We look forward to continuing to work with Becky in her new role as Chief Executive at the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority.”
The appointments come as Becky Wood steps down from the board to take on her new role as Chief Executive Officer at the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority.
Erika Lewis, Chief Executive Officer at Connected Places Catapult, said: “Darran and Gareth have deep expertise from leading some of the UK’s most prominent organisations in the transport and built environment sectors. I’m proud to be welcoming leaders of this calibre onto the Connected Places Catapult board today and look forward to working with them as we continue to support SMEs to bring innovation to our sectors and connect places across the UK.”
Both new directors expressed their enthusiasm for the new roles. Darran Messem said: “Connected Places Catapult is focused on improving and decarbonising transport and the built environment, stimulating local growth, and unlocking the benefits of data and digital technology. Having worked in these areas for nearly 40 years, I’m delighted to be joining the Board of the Catapult, and supporting the exciting innovations and technologies in these focus-areas to progress them from idea to market.”
Gareth Powell said: “I’ve spent more than two decades supporting the growth of cities and regions in the UK, and have seen first-hand the role innovation can plan in unlocking sustainable growth, but also the barriers many SMEs and innovators face in accessing large organisations in both the public and private sectors. I’m excited to be joining the Board of Connected Places Catapult to support the important work they do in enabling innovation in the transport and city development sectors.”
