Kensa announce Paul Donovan as new company chair

TRURO, UNITED KINGDOM / AGILITYPR.NEWS / November 04, 2024 / Experienced business leader appointed as chair of British renewable heating provider

British ground source heat pump supplier and networked heat pump innovator Kensa is pleased to announce the appointment of Paul Donovan as their new Chair of the Board, effective from 1st November after a planned recruitment and transition process. He succeeds Lord Matthew Taylor, who, following best practice, is retiring after ten successful years in the position. 

Paul is a highly experienced Chair and CEO with an extensive track record of scaling businesses, delivering customer-focused solutions and generating value. Paul spent a decade in the high growth mobile communications industry where he led Vodafone’s emerging markets business, followed by CEO roles at private equity backed companies including Odeon and UCI Cinemas Group, Eircom, and Arqiva. Paul will serve as Kensa Chair alongside his duties as Non-Executive Director at Arqiva and Nordic Aviation Capital.

During his time as Kensa chair, Lord Taylor has shown leadership and guidance, establishing Kensa as a leader in the ground source heat pump industry. While in the position, Lord Taylor oversaw key developments and innovation milestones, including significant investments from Legal & General and Octopus Energy Generation, the launch of the Shoebox NX heat pump and Kensa’s world-first Heat the Streets project.

Paul brings strong experience in building high-performing businesses with customer-centred offers, which will be invaluable to Kensa as it moves into the next phase of growth. The heat pump market is poised to expand rapidly, and Paul’s leadership and knowledge of fast-growing sectors will be hugely beneficial as Kensa continues to be a leading player in delivering heat decarbonisation.

Kensa CEO Tamsin Lishman said:

“On behalf of everyone at Kensa, I’d like to thank Lord Taylor for the commitment, belief and guidance he’s provided during his ten years as Kensa chair. He has seen this innovative, British business grow into one of the key players delivering heat decarbonisation, and we are hugely grateful for all his contributions.

 “We are delighted to welcome Paul to Kensa. His business experience, leadership and guidance will be invaluable as we build upon our trusted expertise, continue to lead the future of renewable heating and cooling and deliver affordable, consumer-focussed solutions.”

Commenting on his new role and his ambitions for Kensa, Paul Donovan said:

"Kensa has established itself as the UK leader in ground source heat pumps and has a clear goal of delivering affordable heat decarbonisation. I am excited to be joining the passionate and dedicated Kensa team and to help the business realise its role in enabling the green energy transition."

Reflecting on his tenure and discussing the future for Kensa, Lord Matthew Taylor said:

“It has been such a pleasure chairing Kensa and being part of the fantastic team that cares so much about ground sourced heat pumps and how they can give people zero-carbon heat for the lowest cost. We have brought in major investment from Legal & General and then Octopus, becoming by far the UK’s leader in manufacturing and installing ground source heat pumps.

“Having completed my 10 years, it’s time for a new Chair to take Kensa to the next level. It’s been a phenomenally successful decade for Kensa, growing from a small business to a national leader in sustainable heat, attracting investment from some of the biggest and most trusted organisations in the UK. I am sure with Paul as Chair, and with the fantastic and committed team around him, the next 10 years will see Kensa go from strength to strength as it brings people high quality, low cost zero carbon heating.”

Notes to Editors:

• Established in 1999 and headquartered in Truro, Cornwall, Kensa is a fast-growing collection of award-winning British businesses involved in the manufacture and installation of ground source heat pumps and the ownership of associated underground infrastructure.
• Kensa is the leading UK-based manufacturer of ground source heat pumps, with its products accounting for more than half of all UK ground source heat pump installations.
• Kensa is partly owned by Legal & General and Octopus Energy. Backed by £70m in investment, Kensa is partnering with cities, communities, housebuilders, social housing providers, and installers to create an affordable, low-carbon future.