Averda appoints Steve Lucas as chairman

Steve will chair the Board as Averda pursues its ambitious strategy of organic and inorganic growth in markets where demand for waste management services is high, and growing.

Steve is a highly experienced senior executive with a significant depth and breadth of financial and leadership experience within London-listed and private companies during his 40-year career to date. Steve is currently chairman of mining company Ferrexpo plc. He was previously Finance Director of National Grid plc from 2002 to 2010.

Steve graduated from Oxford having studied geology and then trained as a chartered accountant. He has held senior financial positions during an 11-year career at Royal Dutch Shell and six years at BG Group, latterly as Group Treasurer. While at Shell and BG Group plc, Steve worked in Tanzania, Hong Kong and China and also has experience across Latin America, India and South East Asia, giving him exposure to, and understanding of, emerging markets.

In addition to his executive career, Steve has served as a non-executive on a number of boards in the energy, mining, food services and telecom sectors, all with extensive operations in emerging markets.

Maysarah Sukkar founded the company over 35 years ago and helped to establish it as one of the world’s leading waste management companies. The business was initially conceived as Sukkar Engineering before shifting its focus into waste management and environmental services. He will remain a director of the company in his new non-executive role of Founder and Emeritus Chairman and will also focus his energies on projects bringing innovative high-tech farming techniques to low-resource settings, as part of Averda’s corporate social responsibility. Averda is very grateful to Mr Sukkar for creating a culture of performance and belonging, enabling its success today and in the future.

Steve Lucas commented:

I am excited to be joining Averda at a pivotal time as it expands geographically, introduces new services including waste-to-energy and bolsters its service offering by acquisition and organic growth. Emerging economies face a profound supply-demand imbalance in waste management and the conversion of waste into energy, and Averda is perfectly placed to meet that need, with efficient services of the highest environmental standards. My focus will be on providing counsel and guidance to CEO Malek Sukkar and his team as they drive forward their proven strategy for growth. On behalf of the Board and all the staff at Averda, I would like to thank my predecessor, without whom Averda would not exist. I intend to build on his legacy to ensure that, as Averda expands into new geographies and introduces new, technology-led services, it retains a culture which fosters a sense of community and pride amongst our most prized asset – our people.

Maysarah Sukkar commented:

It has been my great privilege to create and lead Averda. The transition from a single market operator to a company with over 15,000 employees, operating in more than 40 cities is something of which I am incredibly proud. It has been a pleasure to serve with such a talented team throughout this time and I thank all of them for their support over many years. I know Averda is in safe hands as the business embarks on the next important chapter in its history, poised as it is for significant expansion into Asia and further afield. I am delighted that Steve will be joining the board of Averda. His significant commercial, business and board experience will be invaluable in helping the executive team, led by our CEO, to achieve their goals. I welcome Steve to the Averda family and wish him every success.