Gaynor Hartnell will not step down until a new chief executive is found, and will continue to work with the REA in a consultancy capacity thereafter.
“Gaynor has been with the REA since its inception,” said Mr Wright. “And is well-known and well-respected throughout the industry. It is with great regret that the board has accepted her resignation, although we are very pleased that she wants to remain involved in order to explore new ventures and projects. Gaynor became the chief executive in February 2010, and over that time the REA has grown in size and stature and moved to prestigious new offices in Victoria.
“The REA has appointed Heidrick & Struggles to assist us find the right candidate and those interested are invited to make contact with Claire Skinner. The brief of the new chief executive will be to represent the renewables industry in these economically and politically challenging times, to further develop our talented and enthusiastic staff, to support our members in the delivery of the UK’s 2020 renewable energy targets, and to continue to build closer relationships with our fellow trade associations.”
Gaynor Hartnell added: “I have been with the REA since its formation in 2001. This was preceded by six years working in various trade associations, over which time I was striving to bring about a unified voice for the industry. That makes a total of almost 18 years in a similar setting and I now want to explore other opportunities. I will continue to lead the Association until a replacement is found, and thereafter I am pleased to be staying involved on a consultancy basis.”