Nick has 40 years’ experience in engineering, sales and leadership in the global vehicle OEM and supply chain sector. As a co-founder and CEO of Turquoise-backed Controlled Power Technologies (CPT), Nick led the company through fund-raisings, organisation and resource development, product development, market penetration, and exit through sale of separate divisions to Valeo and Federal Mogul, and transition into being part of a global tier 1 supplier. He started his career as a graduate engineer at Ford Motor Company and went on to work in automotive consulting and tier 1 and tier 2 supply, based in UK and Germany, to both global and niche vehicle companies. Nick is a non-executive director of Third Man Technologies (the CPT earn-out vehicle).
Desmond has over 40 years’ experience in fund management, finance & banking. At Turquoise, he is a senior fund manager and member of the investment committee who represents Low Carbon Innovation Fund on the board of portfolio companies geo, Kubos Semiconductors, Outfield Technologies and KisanHub. Previously, Desmond was managing director of LA Investments where he oversaw venture capital investments in technology companies in energy, biotech and other sectors. Previously, Desmond worked for BZW, Flemings and, latterly, a family office in the Middle East.
Kevin is responsible for coordinating activities relating to the Low Carbon Innovation Fund, in addition to being one of its investment managers and investment committee member. He is a current or former board representative for LCIF portfolio companies including 8power, Bio-Bean, Ablatus Terapeutics, iSotera, TeraView, Syrinix and AMIHO. Prior to joining Turquoise, he was a director at CiFG and Investec Bank. Kevin is a qualified Chartered Accountant and graduate of Edinburgh University. He also studied Business at Griffith University, Australia on a Rotary Foundation Scholarship.
John serves as independent chairperson of the Turquoise investment committee. He has over 40 years’ experience in R&D, innovation and product development in the energy sector and, from 2014-2020, acted as Chief Scientific Adviser to BEIS/DECC. John is a past Executive Director of the UK Energy Research Centre, Corporate Vice-President for the Alstom Group (where he led R&D and technology assessments supporting M&A activity), President of the Institution of Engineering & Technology (2008). He is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Chinese and Australian Academies of Engineering and Industrial Professor of Clean Energy at Birmingham University.
Elisha is a founder member of the Turquoise team, with responsibility for Operations. Prior to joining Turquoise, she worked for 12 years as a Merchandiser and Distribution Manager in the retail industry for Reiss, La Senza, and Burton Group. Elisha is a graduate of Aberdeen University.
Ian leads on a range of advisory (capital raising and M&A) assignments as well as investments on behalf of Low Carbon Innovation Fund 1 & 2 and Turquoise Capital. He is a member of the LCIF2 investment committee and current or former board representative at Adaptavate, Switchd, Spark EV Technology, NRL, ID Workshop, Bactest, Vayon, CH4NGE and Controlled Power Technologies. Previously, Ian worked as an investment banker specialising in the energy sector at Close Brothers, Flemings and Deutsche Bank/Morgan Grenfell. He is a graduate of Oxford University.
Ali is a co-founder and MD of Turquoise. His work includes: investments in and fundraising for Connected Energy (2nd life energy storage systems); set up and management of the Low Carbon Innovation Funds; 10 years as co-founder and chairman of Controlled Power Technologies (hybridisation of passenger vehicles) from Visteon spin-out to trade sale to Valeo and Federal Mogul; and 10 years as advisor to Anglo Platinum including its fuel cell JV with Johnson Matthey and establishment of a corporate venturing fund. Previously, Ali worked in energy project finance and privatisation at Close Brothers, Flemings and PwC, on projects such as Thailand’s first IPP solicitation programme and the Northern Ireland electricity privatisation. He holds Master’s and 1st class Bachelor’s degrees from the London School of Economics.