Ed Craig steps up as ECCI Director as we bid farewell to Andy Kerr
After eight years at the helm of ECCI, Executive Director Professor Andy Kerr is moving on to take up the role of UK and Ireland Director for Climate-KIC, Europe’s largest public-private partnership for action on climate change.
As ECCI’s founding Director, Andy has led the development of ECCI into the leading low carbon hub in Scotland and beyond, delivering groundbreaking projects, business support and policy expertise.
ECCI is Climate-KIC’s Scottish partner, and will continue to work closely with the organisation to deliver business growth and systemic change for a thriving, zero carbon future.
Andy's departure was marked at ECCI's Christmas networking event on Thursday 13 December, supported by the centre's ConnectedClusters project. The University is expected to begin recruitment for the new Director in Spring 2019, after a short strategic review.
Ed Craig steps up
ECCI’s Deputy Director Ed Craig, who supported the establishment of ECCI through the award-winning Low Carbon Innovation project and has more than 25 years’ experience supporting the business creation process, will take on the role of Interim Executive Director of ECCI from January 2019 until recruitment is completed.
Andy will also step down as Policy Director for ClimateXChange – Scotland’s centre of expertise connecting climate change policy and research, hosted at ECCI. Dr Mark Winskel, a member of the ClimateXChange Directorate and Senior Lecturer in the School of Social and Political Science at the University of Edinburgh, will take on the role on an interim basis and this will be reviewed once the new ECCI Executive Director is in place.
Andy will remain Visiting Professor of Climate and Low Carbon Innovation at the University of Edinburgh and will continue to be based in the city.
A privilege to lead ECCI
Professor Andy Kerr, former ECCI Executive Director, said:
“It has been a privilege to lead ECCI for almost a decade – and to work with so many people committed to using their talents and expertise to build a thriving zero carbon future.
“Like ECCI, Climate-KIC sees city-based collaboration – where academics, communities, businesses and government work together – as key to driving effective climate action and delivering social and economic opportunities.
“Leading this work across the UK is the logical next step for me and the perfect way to build on the thriving low carbon ecosystem we have built in Edinburgh and beyond.”
Professor Simon Kelley, Head of the University of Edinburgh’s School of GeoSciences, said:
“As founding Director, Andy has done an outstanding job of leading the development of ECCI into the leading low carbon hub and impact centre for Scotland and beyond.
“The ECCI team, and the wider University, will continue to work collaboratively with business, policy-makers and government to deliver impact and innovation for a clean, thriving future.”