FORMER Parsons Power Generation managing director Trevor Murch has been appointed as the new non-executive chairman of the Blyth-based National Renewable Energy Centre (Narec).

Murch assumed his role on December 1 after Alan Rutherford stood down as chairman after six years.

Murch is also a non-executive director of a number of UK companies.

He said: “This is an extremely exciting time to be joining the Narec team. New world leading testing facilities are nearing completion and must be integrated into the business. I will work to ensure Narec punches its weight in the growing global market place for offshore renewables to deliver maximum economic benefit for the UK.”

Murch spent 10 years at Rolls-Royce, where he served as chief executive of five of its subsidiaries. He was managing director of Tyneside’s Parsons Power Generation as well as Peebles Electric Limited in Edinburgh. His later stops included Howden plc and engineering firm Syltone, and he was Conex Banninger’s CEO until 2010.

Andrew Mill, CEO of Narec, said: “I welcome Trevor Murch to the board and thank Alan Rutherford for his considerable efforts in helping to establish Narec as a world-leading centre for the commercialisation of offshore renewable energy technologies.”