Velocys appoints Bensley global head of business development

Velocys plc, an international sustainable fuels technology company providing clients with a technology solution to enable the production of negative carbon intensity synthetic, drop-in fuels, has appointed Andy Bensley as global head of Business Development and Technology Delivery, based in Oxford, UK.

With 35 years of international industry experience, Bensley brings to Velocys seniority in corporate, functional leadership and project delivery in both international oil companies and EPC contractor organisations. 

Bensley was formerly advisor to the CEO for SK Engineering, an East Asian construction and development firm. He also held senior project management roles at Bechtel, Shell and Eni and has worked in South Korea, Qatar, Kuwait, Australia, Italy and the U.S.A. for extensive periods.

As part of the senior leadership team at Velocys, Bensley will help to accelerate the commercialisation of the Velocys technology and cultivate its global client pipeline. His expertise in business development and project management will help position Velocys as the technology partner of choice in its market segment.

“I am pleased to welcome Andy to the team at Velocys. Andy’s many years of international industry experience will be invaluable as we take advantage of the opportunities presented by the need to decarbonise globally.  Andy will help position Velocys as the ideal technology partner for companies, governments and countries who are looking to immediately reduce the carbon intensity of transportation using sustainable synthetic fuels, which are also associated with air quality benefits,” said Henrik Wareborn, Velocys CEO.

In his new role at Velocys, Andy introduced a new operations management system and created a solutions consulting business dedicated to project advisory, forecasting and risk management.

Earlier this month, Velocys announced a new management team, that included Bensley. In addition, Heinz Robota, VP Technology, will be retiring from his role after 10 years at Velocys and will be succeeded by Dawid Duvenhage. Robota has led the catalysis efforts of Velocys, from the R&D phase into the commercial phase. He has agreed to continue to support Velocys as a member of its Senior Scientific Advisory Board.

Duvenhage joined the company in November 2021 with the responsibility for Velocys’ catalysis division. Following an initial career as a chemist and chief scientist, Duvenhage has more than 30 years’ experience in catalyst development, scale-up and commercialisation.

Andrew Morris, CFO, has advised the Board of his intention to leave Velocys in order to pursue other career opportunities. The intention is for Andrew to step down as CFO and Board Director during the second quarter.

Morris has been with Velocys since 2017 when he joined the board as a non-executive director and chairman of the company’s Audit and Risk Committee. As part of an Executive management change in 2018, Morris stepped in as CFO of the company that year. He has played a key role in strengthening and consolidating the finance function of the Company. 

“The Board would like to convey its gratitude to Andrew for his role in establishing a strong finance function within Velocys, and for his ongoing support over the coming months. We wish Andrew the very best in his pursuit of new opportunities and the next chapter of his professional career,” said Phil Holland, chairman of Velocys.