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MD of RetrofitWorks and popular energy efficiency expert, Russell Smith, recently announced that he is stepping back from daily activity at the organisation but will continue on the Board and dedicate a few days each week to focus on specific initiatives that will deliver greater value for Members and Communities. After a decade, Russell has made this decision to hand over the reins, confident that RetrofitWorks is in a stronger position than ever to continue its upward trajectory under the leadership of Interim MD Soren Nellegaard, who has been with strategically involved with RetrofitWorks as Business Development Manager since May 2020.

“From those early days of workshops and consultations with hundreds of SME contractors, designers, charities, local authorities, community energy coops from right across the country, RetrofitWorks has emerged as a strong, independent, influential organisation that represents its two kinds of cooperative member in the emerging retrofit marketplace as it seeks to find its feet towards genuine scale.

“And now, as RetrofitWorks has a strong operations team, a dedicated and representative Board, a long-term order book, and very excitingly, emerging opportunities to work with communities across the UK, it is time for a new kind of leader to take the organisation into its next phase. This month I step aside and welcome Soren Nellegaard as Interim Managing Director whilst an open recruitment process is undertaken.

“I’ve loved every minute of starting and running this influential, open and equitable organisation and am extremely thankful for the large number of people and organisations that have helped me and my colleagues to push onward. It hasn’t been without its challenges; ‘the idea’ of a collaborative, interdependent, self-learning delivery model remains and has been truly tested as successive ill-thought-out initiatives have emerged from Government in recent years to pour oil onto the road. However, much like Nelson Mandela once said, “We never lose. We either win or learn”.

Interim MD Soren Nellegaard comments: “Russell has been inspirational in the work he has done to champion the retrofit sector, as well as making RetrofitWorks the brand it is today. I’m excited to be entrusted to continue to take us forward. We’re stronger than ever, have some incredible experience and lessons in our locker, and we continue to capture the imagination of communities up and down the country that want to make accurate and fast progress towards a zero-carbon world.”