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Edinburgh Instruments appoints Derek Shepherd chairman

April 18, 2012

Livingston, Scotland--Edinburgh Instruments appointed Derek Shepherd chairman at a pivotal time as the company builds on its spectacular growth surge across all its divisions.

Gail Overton

Livingston, Scotland--Edinburgh Instruments, a manufacturer and developer of scientific technology products for the photonics, spectroscopy, and gas sensor markets, appointed Derek Shepherd chairman. The company says the appointment happens at a pivotal time as Edinburgh Instruments continues to build on its spectacular growth surge across all its divisions.

Shepherd spent more than 25 years with Aggreko, supplier of temporary power and temperature control products, rising to the position of executive director and overseeing expansion across Central and South America, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. His international markets knowledge and experience will compliment Edinburgh Instruments’ own international aspirations. "Derek Shepherd is a proven leader who has demonstrated his value to the energy and construction industries," said Alan Faichney, CEO of Edinburgh Instruments.

Commenting on his appointment as chairman, Shepherd said, "It is an honour for me to be appointed chairman of one of the most innovative high-end scientific instrumentation companies in Scotland. I am delighted to take on this role. Moreover, I want to help build momentum through the organisation, ensuring we can attract the next generation of scientific engineers to help extend our R&D capability."

Shepherd, who holds an honorary doctorate in engineering from Heriot Watt University, is chairman and founder director of University of Edinburgh spin-out company NGenTec Limited, which developed a permanent magnet generator for wind turbines. Other non-executive directorships include Ashtead Technology Rentals in Aberdeen, Houston and Singapore, Avalon Aviation Services in Dubai and Libertine FPE (a free piston engine start-up) and he is an Advisor to KarPower International, a Turkish company who convert ships into floating power stations. Shepherd is also a mentor for the Princes Trust in Scotland and as part of the GlobalScot network works as an advisor to Scottish companies wishing to work in the Arabian Gulf and Africa.

SOURCE: Edinburgh Instruments; www.edinst.com/news/edinburgh-instruments-announces-new-chairman-appointment/

About the Author

Gail Overton | Senior Editor (2004-2020)

Gail has more than 30 years of engineering, marketing, product management, and editorial experience in the photonics and optical communications industry. Before joining the staff at Laser Focus World in 2004, she held many product management and product marketing roles in the fiber-optics industry, most notably at Hughes (El Segundo, CA), GTE Labs (Waltham, MA), Corning (Corning, NY), Photon Kinetics (Beaverton, OR), and Newport Corporation (Irvine, CA). During her marketing career, Gail published articles in WDM Solutions and Sensors magazine and traveled internationally to conduct product and sales training. Gail received her BS degree in physics, with an emphasis in optics, from San Diego State University in San Diego, CA in May 1986.