International Lead Medal awarded to ILA veteran Maura McDermott

Maura McDermott, one of the International Lead Association’s longestserving employees, office and events manager, was awarded the International Lead Medal on June 22 at the Pb2023 conference in Athens.

The medal, the industry’s highest honour, marks her retirement after 35 years of service and in particular honours her unstinting work behind the scenes. She has been one of the key figures in making the events activities of the ILA — starting in 1990 with 2ELBC in Brussels, right up to 18ELBC in Lyon — an integral part of the lead battery industry calendar.

“It’ll be a shame to see her go,” one delegate at Pb2023 said to Batteries International . “She’s always been a well-liked and popular figure in the conferences — she’s been scrupulously fair with everyone even with some of the more difficult exhibitors who can be very pushy.

“She’s very much a landmark at our events and a welcome face too!”

Maura joined the Zinc and Lead Development Association in November 1988, as executive assistant to the chief executive, David Ward. She started work at the association’s offices in Berkeley Square, London.

Following a series of reorganizations, the Zinc Development Association moved to Birmingham, and Maura stayed at the International Lead Association, and worked as EA to David Wilson who was then managing director of

ILA until his retirement in 2012.

It was during this period that she helped induct a new ILA recruit, Andy Bush, who joined the association on completing his doctorate and eventually becoming managing director.

Commenting on her ca- reer and the International Lead Award, she said: “It’s a real honour to be recognized by the industry to which I’ve devoted almost my entire career. It’s such a social and friendly industry, I will take with me many happy memories and just as many friends.

“I’ve enjoyed many aspects of the job, but I’ll particularly miss the events and the colleagues and delegates who helped make them such a success.

“Keep the lead light burning!”

Andy Bush, ILA managing director, said: “In three and a half decades Maura has made a huge contribution to the work of the lead association helping to make two of the major conferences supporting our industry — Pb and ELBC — the leading events they are today. She has been a much loved and respected point-of-contact for so many members and partners, as well as our employees. She’ll be greatly missed.

“On behalf of the whole industry I would like to thank her for her unstinting loyalty and service over so many years and wish her a long and wellearned retirement.”

See our full Pb23 event report on page 88.

Frank Macchiarola joined the American Clean Power Association as chief policy officer on June 20, the trade organization announced.

Macchiarola, former senior VP of policy, economics and regulatory affairs at the American Petroleum Institute, is leading a team working on regulatory and legislative proposals to boost development of advanced clean energy technologies.

Jason Grumet, ACP’s chief executive officer, said: “The clean energy sector is at a pivotal moment, and growing our team to embrace the opportunities before us will ensure this industry has the bench strength in place to match the moment.”

ACP said in a report published last December that more than $40 billion of grid-scale clean energy investments, including several new battery storage plants, were announced in the US in the three months up to November 30 — underlining the impact of policies rolled out by the federal government.

Metair moves interim CEO, CFO appointments to permanent positions

Interim CEO of battery and auto components group Metair Investments, Sjoerd Douwenga (pictured), has been appointed to the role permanently, the company said on May 31.

Interim CFO Anesh Jogia has also been appointed permanently. He will also work as executive director and a member of the firm’s investment committee.

The interim appointments of Douwenga and Jogia were announced in March, following the resignation of then CEO Riaz Haffejee.

Metair said the permanent appointments “will allow for a seamless leadership transition”.

The group’s energy storage division includes Tur-