Connected Places Catapult, the UK’s innovation accelerator for transport, the built environment, cities and local growth, announced today the appointment of two new non-executive directors to its board of directors.
Darran Messem is an experienced company director with sectoral experience primarily in transport, energy, built environment and sustainability. He is currently a director of the Vehicle Certification Agency, Shoreham Port Authority, and Net Zero Projects - a construction technology start-up, where he chairs the board.
Darran’s previous board roles include DIRECTOR AND CHAIR OF THE Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (now the Zero Emission Mobility Partnership), Senior Independent Director of Velocys PLC, Non-Executive Director of BRE Group (formerly the Building Research Establishment), and Chair of Iogen Energy. His previous executive roles include Managing Director of Certification and International Director of the Carbon Trust; Vice President Fuel Development at Shell, and General Manager Market Development at British Airways. He also served on the Strategic Roads Expert Panel of the Office of Rail and Road (ORR).
Gareth Powell is managing director at London Stansted Airport and a member of the MAG Executive Committee. MAG is the UK’s largest airports group, it owns and operates Manchester, Stansted and East Midlands airports alongside digital consumer business Cavu.
Gareth joined MAG from Transport for London (TfL), where he spent 19 years. His most recent roles were Deputy Commissioner and Chief Customer and Strategy Officer, which saw him lead TfL’s recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. During his time at TfL, Gareth was also Managing Director of Surface Transport, Chief Operating Officer of London Rail and Director of Strategy and Service Development for London Underground, managing around £5bn of revenue and a workforce of more than 3,000 people, as well as maintaining key stakeholder relationships including with the Mayor of London.