Philip Sellwood CBE is new Chair of the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership
Thu 07 May 2020
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(Media release) Philip Sellwood has been named as the new Chair of the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP), the 200+ member organisation which works closely with government and the widest range of stakeholders to deliver progress in the transition to net zero in road transport.
Philip Sellwood brings wide-ranging, cross-industry experience from the sustainability sector (nationally and internationally), local government, house building and the water sector to his new role with LowCVP (see annex below).
Philip is former Group Chief Executive of Energy Saving Trust where, for seventeen years until early 2020, he worked to establish Energy Saving Trust as a key organisation helping the UK move to a zero-carbon emissions future.
Philip’s appointment comes at a time of rapid transition in the road transport sector, driven in large part by the climate change agenda which has come into even more prominent focus following the Government’s commitment to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. His tenure as LowCVP Chair will see the publication of an historic Transport Decarbonisation Plan and confirmation of the Government’s commitment to phase out cars and vans with internal combustion engines by 2035 (or, possibly, sooner).
In a sixteen-year business career, after completing an MBA, Philip rose to Commercial Strategy Director at Marks & Spencer and Commercial Managing Director of Thresher Group, where he orchestrated a commercial recovery from c£20m loss to £40m profit in two years.
Philip Sellwood was awarded CBE for services to public energy policy in the 2020 New Year Honours.
Commenting on the appointment, LowCVP’s Managing Director, Andy Eastlake, said: “Philip has been a key board member of LowCVP since its inception in 2003, serving as Vice Chair for several years.
“His experience and advice together with his wide-ranging links across the energy and related industries are going to be critically important as the barriers between sectors such as electricity and transport continue to break down and as we focus more on a lifecycle-oriented, systems approach that stretches well beyond how we’ve looked at these challenges in the past.
“I look forward to working even more closely with, and learning from, Philip as LowCVP grows its influence.”
Philip Sellwood said: “It is a privilege to have been appointed as LowCVP’s new Chair. I have previously seen for myself what a tough but important role this is.
“I hope to help continue the work to assist the UK Government, the automotive sector and the public to move towards a decarbonised transport future; the post-Covid19 period gives the UK an unparalleled opportunity to deliver a resilient recovery based upon sustainable jobs and growth.”
Thanking outgoing LowCVP Chair, Darran Messem, who will remain a Board member, Andy Eastlake said: “Darran’s six years as Chair of LowCVP have seen some of the most dramatic changes in the low carbon road transport agenda and in the ways the Partnership has operated.
“His support to me and the team has helped keep LowCVP in the vanguard of this agenda and I’m very pleased that he will continue with us on the Board as we move towards net zero.”
Darran Messem said: “Since I became LowCVP’s Chair, the UK has made significant progress in the decarbonisation of transport, particularly in the moves to more efficient new vehicles, electrification and increased use of lower-carbon transport modes. Delivering change in transport is a team effort, and while LowCVP cannot take all the credit for this progress it certainly has played a vital part.
“There’s much more to do, of course, and I’m confident LowCVP will continue to play an important part. I’m delighted that Philip has been elected by the Board as my replacement. I wish him and LowCVP every success, and I’ll continue to give this unique organisation my full support.”
Download hi-res image of Philip Sellwood here
ANNEX: Philip Sellwood - Additional Information
Philip Sellwood is currently a Non-Executive Director of Renewable Energy Assurance Ltd which carries out a range of certification and consumer protection activities all of which promote sustainable energy. He also holds a Non-Exec Directorship with Tevva, a leading UK-based developer of modular electrification systems for medium duty commercial vehicles.
He also brings significant experience of the local government sector having been a Non-Executive Director of the Local Government Improvement & Innovation Board for approaching ten years.
Philip was a founder trustee of the Ellen Macarthur Foundation where he successfully mentored Ellen MacArthur and the Executive team on organisational development.
He has also been an Advisory Board member of UK Energy Research Council (UKERC) since 2005; a UK Advisory Council Member of the National House-Building Council since 2013; a Board member of the water industry campaign TWENTY65 as well as a UK Representative of the 28-country European Energy Network, of which he has twice been President.
For more information, see the full media release.
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