Publicly listed renewable energy and storage company Genex Power Limited in Australia will have its Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Craig Francis take over the responsibilities as its chief executive officer (CEO) as the current incumbent James Harding is set to retire.

Harding will be relieved from his CEO position post August 31, 2023, after having served the company for 5 years. Post his retirement, he will continue to support the company as a consultant to ensure smooth transition, the management announced.

Francis has been working with Genex since 2017 when he was appointed to lead its commercial development portfolio. In 2021, it he was promoted as the CFO. He previously worked with the corporate finance team at Cantor Fitzgerald Europe in the UK offering advisory services for energy and natural resources sector.

Genex has started the executive search for a new CFO to replace Francis from the position.

Welcoming Francis, Genex Chairman Dr Ralph Craven said, “Since joining the leadership team, he has applied his deep financial acumen, intricate knowledge of the energy sector and collaborative leadership style to successfully execute multiple project finance programs, including for our flagship Kidston Pumped Storage Hydro Project, as well as playing a key role in the development of the Company’s broader strategy.”

The Kidstone Clean Energy Hub is Genex’s flagship project, in North Queensland. It integrates 50 MW solar project under phase I and 250 MW pumped storage project. The company sees potential for additional multi-stage wind and solar projects to be added to it.

It also counts the company’s total renewable energy and storage under development pipeline as adding up to 2.25 GW.

The company is also invested in Bulli Creek Solar and Storage Project in Australia with up to 2 GW PV and 400 MW/1,600 MWh storage component, which it acquired from Solar Choice in 2022 (see 2 GW Solar & Storage Project Changes Hands).