The UK Green Investment Bank plc (GIB) announced on Friday the appointment of a new Managing Director for Waste and Bio-energy.

Chris Holmes joins GIB from Dutch bank NIBC where he led the Capital Markets division of the Infrastructure and Renewables business and managed their UK origination and advisory practice. An infrastructure and renewables expert with a focus on waste management, Chris has spent over a decade with the bank, leading on a number of high profile PFI/PPP transactions. Prior to NIBC, Chris was with Grant Thornton in their Project Finance team.

Chris joins a well-established team at GIB who are focussed on supporting the last remaining local authority PPP / PPI projects, supporting the growth of the commercial and industrial waste sector and working to help finance the emerging UK anaerobic digestion sector. Chris will also work closely with Greensphere Capital LLP and Foresight Group, who manage the two waste funds in which GIB has invested.

Chris takes over from Adrian Judge who was one of the earliest members of the GIB team, working within Government before the GIB launched in November 2012. Adrian always intended to step back from his full-time role once he had established the wider team and set the strategy. He has no immediate plans and  continue to support GIB on a number of key initiatives. Adrian will also continue in his role as a Board member of the Evermore CHP plant in Northern Ireland, one of GIB's most recent investments in the waste sector.

Shaun Kingsbury, chief executive, UK Green Investment Bank, said:

"Waste recycling and waste to energy projects are absolutely critical parts of the jigsaw we need to put together if the UK is to hit its ambitious environmental targets. We're pleased to welcome Chris and the wealth of experience he brings in financial services generally and waste infrastructure in particular."I'd also like to pay tribute to Adrian Judge and his contribution to the set-up and early success of GIB. Adrian has made an enormous contribution and while we wish him well for whatever he chooses to do next, I'm delighted that we'll still be able to call on his counsel.'

"I'm delighted to be joining GIB. As someone who has built a career in infrastructure and project finance, this represents a great new professional challenge for me in a sector I am passionate about. GIB has the sector knowledge and the capital to make a real difference and I'm looking forward to building upon the excellent work by Adrian and the team."