TECHNOLOGY entrepreneur Andrew Bissell’s plan to build a second global success story in Scotland has received a boost after his latest venture recruited a prominent sector player as its chairman.
Martin Bloom has joined the board of the Sunamp heat storage battery business as the firm mounts a push for growth that it expects will result in staff numbers almost doubling to 50 this year.
Mr Bloom’s decision to join Sunamp provides a vote of confidence in the company’s technology, which can be used to store heat generated from conventional and renewable sources for release when it is needed.
The executive has played an important role in developing a range of high growth technology and renewable energy companies in global markets, including Chinese solar company Renesola and Loughborough-based fuel cell specialist Intelligent Energy.
He also has experience of listing companies on stock markets and of mergers and acquisitions activity.
Mr Bissell said Sunamp would benefit from Mr Bloom’s sector expertise and wide network as the company looks to grow sales of its products in international markets.
He said Sunmap was poised to gain significant advantage from its leading position in the global market for thermal storage.
It has started volume shipments with two big players in the UK and European heating, ventilation and air conditioning markets.
East Lothian-based Sunamp recently raised around £3m to support expansion from backers including Japanese energy utility Osaka Gas and the Places for People housing operation.
Mr Bissell started developing Sunamp in 2005, a year after the Voxar medical imaging business he span out of Edinburgh university was sold to Belgium’s Barco for £23m.
Mr Bloom succeeds Sunamp’s founding chairman Bob Pettigrew, who oversaw its early growth.
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