Meet the Team

Richard joined Stobart Energy on 20^th May 2020 as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), bringing with him significant experience from over 20-years in the waste sector.  As CEO, for Stobart Energy, Richard provides strong leadership to build on the existing core business and further developing relationships with all stakeholders, with a key focus on developing and implementing the growth strategy.

He started his career with Viridor in 1999 in the Business Development team gaining huge experience in commercially driving and bidding for local authority PFI contracts, acquisitions, and organic growth opportunities culminating in successfully closing the Greater Manchester PFI the largest PFI contract in Europe.  In 2010 he moved into his role as South West Regional Director, and in 2013 Richard was parachuted into the North Region and relocated from Somerset as Regional Director.

Over the last three years, Richard has been focused as Managing Director on the Greater Manchester Waste contract, one of the largest waste contracts in Europe responsible for managing over one million tonnes of waste per annum.  In 2019 he moved with this contract to Suez before making the move to Stobart Energy.

Outside of work, Richard spends time with his family and with two boys has a keen interest in all sports, in particular, Football and cricket following Tottenham Hotspur and Somerset.

Gareth is Finance Director of Stobart Energy with responsibility for the delivery of our financial and business strategies, and in addition he also leads the People and Business Improvement teams. Gareth joined in May 2020 from Ornua, Ireland’s leading exporter of Dairy products and the owner of Ireland’s first +€1 billion Food brand, Kerrygold.

Gareth is originally from Dublin, Ireland and following graduation from Dublin City University, he joined KPMG Ireland where he qualified as a Chartered Accountant. Post qualification, Gareth joined the Corporate Finance team at Investec Bank plc, where he advised on a variety M&A, Strategy, Debt Restructuring and Equity Capital Markets assignments. In 2014, Gareth joined Ornua as an M&A and Strategy advisor to the Group Executive Management team, leading on a number of acquisitions on behalf of Ornua in the UK, Europe, USA and China. In 2016, Gareth seconded to Ornua China, leading the post-acquisition integration of a newly acquired business in Shanghai and in 2017, following Ornua’s acquisition of FJ Need Foods Ltd in the UK, Gareth joined FJ Need Foods Ltd as Finance Director.

Outside of work, Gareth is passionate about traveling and experiencing new cultures and cuisines, and he has a keen interest in sports & general fitness. He is a lifelong Blackburn Rovers fan (some might say it was a naïve choice as a child!) and he also enjoys Golf, Rugby and GAA.

Gareth Vaughan is Projects Director responsible for developing and implementing commercial strategies and objectives aiming to accelerate growth as well as developing key strategic relationships.  Gareth’s recent focus has involved setting up operational sites and working with the Environment Agency to obtain the required permits for our operations and is now focussed upon delivering the Stobart Sustainable Energy Model.

Prior to this role, Gareth has worked across multi divisions within Stobart Group over the past nine years, including Eddie Stobart, Stobart Aviation and Group Finance.

Gareth graduated from Liverpool University in 2001 and qualified as a chartered accountant at Grant Thornton, where he spent 8 years working in audit and corporate tax.

Neil joined Stobart Energy in 2019 and has responsibility for service delivery, strategic relationships, and contracts with our renewable fuel customers. He is also responsible for successfully developing and delivering business development opportunities with new and existing customers. Neil started his career as an Environmental Consultant and has since gained considerable commercial experience across waste, recycling, and renewable energy supply chains in both the public and private sectors. Over several years Neil held key commercial roles in the development and delivery of major waste and recycling PFI/PPP contracts including Greater Manchester and Merseyside Waste Disposal Authorities and Viridor.

Prior to this role, Neil worked at Viridor leading key commercial projects across contracts, supply chain management, new business, innovation and formulation & delivery of strategic change.

In 2015 Neil gained an MBA and is an advocate of the clean growth agenda working closely with businesses, universities and NGOs, including the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, to further how business can contribute to a more sustainable future.

Alan joined Stobart Energy in June 2016 and has been instrumental in developing and driving our operations across the UK; He is responsible for the strategically situated processing and storage sites throughout the UK and ensuring that all contractual obligations are being met from the site requirements in the manufacturing of the fuel.

Alan started off his career by serving in HMF for over 10 years, to which he firmly believes has helped him to reach this pivotal point in his career, working as the Operations Director. During his time in the British Army, he learned the importance of building and trusting the people and team around you to allow you to succeed in most things you want to do.

He has spent nearly 20 years in the wood industry, dealing with both virgin and waste woods in its various forms. Throughout this industry, he has worked at board mills and wood waste manufacturers using various types of machinery and equipment. The challenges remain similar as they were 20 years ago in trying to make a fuel out of waste wood which most people would think is easy, but without the right, people, machinery, and equipment it is a challenge. During this time, he has been responsible for running mobile and fixed plant installations.

Outside work Alan enjoys spending time with his wife and family, they enjoy exploring new places on holiday, and when not at work.  Alan is a keen sportsman who favors watching both codes of Rugby, supporting The Ospreys(Union) from his home country Wales and The Saints (league) where he currently resides.