Forewind

Lord Deben has resigned from his role as chairman of Forewind following his appointment as the new chairman of the government's climate change advisory body, Committee on Climate Change (CCC).

The former environment secretary takes up the chairmanship of the committee from today and he will therefore leave the Forewind consortium he has chaired for the past two years.

Forewind Managing Director Lee Clarke said Lord Deben has a major contribution to make to the climate change agenda, and while it is a loss to the organisation developing the Dogger Bank offshore wind zone, it will be a gain to the UK as the nation moves into a critical period on climate change and energy-related issues.

"We have been honoured to have him as a chairman over the past two years and wish him well with his new role," Dr Clarke said.

Lord Deben said: “I have very much enjoyed my period as chairman of Forewind. It has given me a great insight into the offshore wind industry and I shall very much miss working with such a remarkably able team.”

Forewind will now begin to look for a replacement chairman and both Lord Deben and the consortium's owner companies will assist with this process.

It is anticipated a new chairman will be appointed by early 2013.