DONG Energy has employed Benj Sykes in its London office as the new  Operations Director and Deputy Country Manager in DONG Energy's UK Renewables Business.

Benj joins the team from the Carbon Trust and started work on Monday 20 February. He will have overall responsibility for the operational performance of DONG Energy's portfolio of UK offshore wind farms (Barrow, Burbo Bank, Walney I and II and Gunfleet Sands, with London Array coming into the operational portfolio soon). 

As the portfolio in the UK continues to grow Benj will be working with the UK operations team to continue the drive for operational excellence and world-leading HSE performance.

He will also play a wider role in supporting the UK renewables business and promoting DONG Energy's activities in the UK.

On his appointment, Benj said:

“I’m pleased to be joining one of the leaders in the offshore wind industry at this exciting time. There’s a long pipeline of projects here for me to keep me busy for a few years and I’m also looking forward to getting involved in DONG’s work on the wider industry issues such as bringing down the costs of offshore wind.”

Benj was previously at the Carbon Trust for three years where he was Director of Innovation and led the company's multi-million pound technology innovation programme including the Offshore Wind Accelerator.

 Prior to the Carbon Trust, Benj was Head of NW Europe Joint Ventures at Hess Corporation, a Fortune 100 Oil and Gas company.  Previously he has held a wide range of technical, business and senior leadership roles at Hess and Shell International.  Benj is a Chartered Geologist and Fellow of the Geological Society.