Forbes was the architect of the £5B merger of Scottish Hydro and Southern Electric in 1998, creating Scottish & Southern Energy Plc, a business he ran as CEO until 2002. He also oversaw SSE’s acquisition of Swalec in 2000.
Atlantis Chief Executive, Timothy Cornelius, commented: “Jim’s utility sector experience will not only benefit Atlantis but the development of the entire marine power industry in the UK”.
As well as helping to commercialise Atlantis’ tidal current turbine technology, Forbes will seek opportunities for it within the global utility sector. He will have an initial focus on projects in UK waters through Atlantis’ marine power origination and project management arm, acquired from Morgan Stanley in 2008.
Forbes was formally the Non-Executive Chairman of Thames Water Plc and a Non-Executive Director of Firstgroup Plc. His forty year career in the energy industry began with an apprenticeship with the South of Scotland Electricity Board.
