In the past two decades, energy storage and grid industry has experienced exponential growth, driven by the urgent need for grid stability and the rapid expansion of renewable energy sources bringing increased volatility and imbalance. This evolution has been marked by maturing market trading opportunities, significant technological breakthroughs, including advancements in lithium-ion battery performance and cost competitiveness, and the integration of AI and digital technologies for optimised energy management and trading. The industry is also witnessing a surge in Utility-scale and Commercial & Industrial (C&I) storage applications.
This dynamic landscape has sparked an intense demand for specialist leadership talent across commercial, engineering, finance, and operations. At Hyperion Search, as experts in this rapidly transforming Energy Storage & Grid sector, we continue to partner with clients in key subsectors including:
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Stationary BESS - Developers, IPPs, Utilities
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ESS & E-Mobility Battery Manufacturing & Integration
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Grid Digitalisation e.g. Power Trading SW, Optimisation / Aggregation, DER Flexibility, Energy Management Systems etc
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Upstream battery materials innovation
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Hydrogen storage
Our Energy Storage and Grid team is headed by David Beeston, Director
David leads Hyperion Search’s Energy Storage sector focus, spanning BESS, Battery Manufacturing & Supply Chain, Battery Materials, Grid/Storage Digitalisation, and Long Duration Storage segments. He specialises in C-Suite and Senior Management talent across Commercial, Operational & Technical disciplines.
David’s success in energy storage has been aided by over 10 years’ experience in search, across broader energy & chemicals, engineering, and digitalization sectors earlier in his career, which has given him a holistic industry outlook and broad network reach. He is passionate about building relationships with energy storage leaders and regularly networks at industry conferences and events around Europe.
At Hyperion Search many of our searches are ‘under the radar’, especially executive and strategically important hires. However we do publish many live mandates which you can access and apply to below.
LeydenJar Technologies has been working with Hyperion on a few vacancies for the last couple of years. Recently, with the support of Hyperion team we have welcomed a new valuable member to our leadership team, our COO. We had the pleasure to work with David Beeston. Although the search was challenging, he was always available for discussions and proactively looking for the best candidate to match our requirements. David was providing timely and detailed update on the progress and we are very happy with the outcome.
Christian Rood
CEO @ LeydenJar Technologies
David contacted me early November 2021 regarding the opportunity to join HySiLabs as CEO and supported me in the entire process up to the signature of the contract and my start date. I would like to thank David for establishing a very cordial, human and positive candidate relationship like a coach. David supported me in taking the decision through weekly call to evaluate if there is chemistry and alignment of personalities with the founders and I think the way you proceed is the right way. I would like to thank David for his continuous support.
Corine Dubruel
CEO-Chair @ HSL Technologies (Formerly HySiLabs)
David was a total surprise for me, since you can rarely find "real partners" in the recruiting world. I can say it was a pleasure for me to work with him, he helped me throughout my entire recruiting process. I recommend David for all your future recruiting needs!
Daniel Mares
Sales Manager, Europe @ TWS
I found David to be helpful, informative and professional throughout the process. I highly recommend him and Hyperion and wouldn’t hesitate to pass over candidates and roles alike.
Dan Moore
Head of BESS Asset Management @ Root Power/Ylem Energy
I am writing to highly recommend David as an Executive Recruiter. In my experience working with him, I found him to be not only highly professional and proactive but also a great communicator who understands the needs of both the company and the candidate.
Fergal Harrington-Beatty
Head of Business Development @ E-magy
David Beeston Hyperion supported the hiring of our Director of Policy & Markets Development. This was a very important hire for Piclo as we embarked on further expansion into international markets, and we needed an experienced industry specialist who could bring deep policy know-how coupled with a strategic commercial mindset.
David delivered a shortlist of high quality, diverse candidates and supported us each step of the way leading to the successful hire of Matthew (Billson). I would highly recommend using the Hyperion team for senior, strategic roles in a growing energy scale-up.
James Johnston
CEO @ Piclo
David approached me about the role at Piclo when I was not actively looking. Throughout the discussions, I found David supportive, responsive, and very helpful in moving the process along, acting as an excellent go-between to ensure both parties felt we achieved a good outcome. I would happily recommend David to future employers and candidates.
Matthew Billson
Director of Policy and Markets Strategy @ Piclo
We worked with Hyperion to hire a world class Commercial Director at Arenko. This was an important strategic role for us to fill and getting the right person was imperative to accelerate the commercialisation of our technology and maintain our company culture. Hyperion carried out an extensive global search and presented a shortlist of highly qualified, screened candidates, from whom there was a clear stand out. The candidate was based in California, US, so the appointment came with a number of challenges including package negotiation and relocation. Hyperion supported us through the process diligently and calmly, navigating between the stakeholders to broker the deal. We are delighted with the results! Thank you to the team at Hyperion for their support, and we would certainly recommend them to others.
Rupert Newland
CEO @ Arenko
David helped me secure my role with Canadian Solar EMEA. He guided me through the entire process with regular communication and advice throughout. For sure he stands out as a headhunter in the cleantech space.
Stefan van Doorn
Senior Key Account Manager, Utility – Germany @ Canadian Solar EMEA
I have worked with Wolfgang and his team for the recruitment of a number of senior roles both in the UK and Germany. I have always been impressed with the strength and depth of knowledge across the team whether recruiting for an MD role of a more specialist senior role. The number and quality of candidates has always been great enabling me to have an opportunity to meet a wide range of candidates ahead of selecting the final individuals who have subsequently joined the Horizon Group. I was particularly impressed with a recent video tool that Wolfgang and I used when setting out in detail the MD role for our German business - I thought this was an innovative way of presenting the role and my company.
Thom Thorp
CEO at Horizon Energy Infrastructure Limited
Highly recommended - professional with a personal touch. David provides an excellent, accurate and responsive service - communicates well and facilitates a good degree of preparation and feedback loops as key part of the process.
Tim Garfoot
VP of Sales @ About:Energy
Testimonials
Related Insights
09 October 2024
New 4 day week rules set to change in the UK. Are you ready?
By
Flexibility is now one of, if not the most, important consideration for most professionals we speak to when looking for their next career challenge.
Therefore, the proposed rule changes around 4 day working weeks in the UK, as highlighted in this article, are very interesting indeed. In fact, they could be revolutionary for work as we know it!
Currently, employees in the UK have the right to request flexible working, but employers aren’t legally obliged to agree. However, that could be set to change with new planned laws which would mean all employers must offer employees the option of flexible 4 day working from day one of employment, except where it is “not reasonably feasible” (What this latter stipulation means, time will tell!)
It's a topic I've heard many people discussing recently and in most cases, positively.
The 4 day week has already been trialled and fully implemented in other countries, such as Belgium, Australia, Denmark etc and in 2023, a trial of over 60 companies in the UK, found approx. 90% of participating companies were positive post-trial and chose to keep the 4 day working arrangements permanently.
It's a topic close to home too. Here at Hyperion we offer the 4 day flexibility for some of our team members who have requested it, for example those with young children who might be navigating childcare availability and costs. Now in our case it's made easier given we're a Services business and ultimately quality output is the main measure for us. There's no “clock in, clock out” culture - ultimately, if your working pattern means you're delivering against your objectives and aligning with our values, then great!
Some of the positive impacts reported by those who have implemented the 4 day week include:
- Boosts in productivity - Many companies found that output improved after introducing 4 day weeks. With reduced hours, employees were more focused and efficient, so they could enjoy the benefits of the extra day off
- Improved engagement - Better work-life balance made people feel happier and more engaged during their working days. This can really boost team harmony and ultimately performance
- Reduced burnout - according to this BBC article, 71% of the 2023 UK trial reported reductions in levels of burnout
- Hiring benefits - With flexibility being a key driver for many job seekers, offering this arrangement can give companies an edge over competition when attracting top talent
Of course, it's not that easy for all industries and even in sectors where it is more practical, it will take some adjustment for many company leaders (it's been difficult enough to convince some leaders to allow working from home flexibility, never mind 4 day working!). As we know, typically people don't like change!
If you're a business leader faced with the prospect of these new rules, there are some important things to keep in mind:
- Not everyone will want this. Don't assume this needs to be a blanket rule. Some people like and work better in the routine and pace of a 5 day week and therefore may not adjust to a reduced week.
- Be smart with how this is implemented. It's no use having half your team off on the same day, if you have round-the-clock business. Think about how this can be staggered or on a rotation for your team members
- There should be no concessions when it comes to meeting objectives. This is an employee choice and accountability should come with this flexibility.
- Be careful not to inadvertently create an unhealthy intense, high-pressure work environment by compressing the same workload into four days. Be mindful your employees could end up overwhelmed and not perform at their best or in more severe cases this could impact physical and mental health.
- Less time for critical thinking and reflection. Some of the best business ideas spawn from “free time” where your team can reflect and focus on new solutions. This condensed workload may eliminate those windows of opportunity for creativity and strategizing.
- You may see top performers crash. In many businesses, productivity is already super high, with fast pace and constant deadlines (those running start-ups know exactly what I mean) so reducing workdays may seem like a benefit, but in fact it might add a new layer of pressure. Instead of taking the extra day to work on themselves, recharge the batteries, or be with their families, employees could instead end up logging into work to catch up on tasks they couldn’t complete during the 4 days, which ultimately defeats the point!
Ultimately, whether this concept works can come down to how it's implemented by the business leaders - particularly how you balance being accommodating of employee's expectations and the needs and expectations of the business. In any successful work model, whether its 4 days, 5 days, or whatever else, the focus should be on the quality of work and the wellbeing of employees. Don't treat them like cogs in a machine!
How do you anticipate the new 4 day working week rule changes affecting your business?
Hyperion supports cleantech and climatetech clients across Europe, to hire top senior and executive leadership talent. If you're looking for support in growing your business, contact me at david.beeston@hyperionsearch.com
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#mobility#energy
04 October 2024
How BESS can save the EU billions!
By
Show me the money!
Those of a certain age will remember the famous Jerry Maguire line. I often think of this when discussing the merits of renewables and energy storage with clients. Often clients tell me that one of the core challenges is convincing financers or those outside the industry, on the merits of “going green”. Rolling out technology specs and a bunch of acronyms sometimes doesn't cut it. Sometimes you need to break it down to simple financial terms… Show me the money!
This excellent analysis by Ember highlights the HUGE monetary benefits we could see by ramping up our BESS deployments. Focused on the EU, but applicable globally, the impact BESS can have on not only reducing curtailment costs but also alleviating the reliance on expensive gas generation, is enormous.
Quite simply, who can argue against potentially €9 billion per year in reduced costs?!
Hyperion Search supports Energy Storage and Grid clients to recruit senior and executive leadership talent, who can help their companies to grow significantly. If you're a leader of a Energy Storage & Grid company looking to expand or transform your leadership team, contact me at david.beeston@hyperionsearch.com to discuss how we can support you.