Getech Group PLC (AIM:GTC) has announced that its chief executive officer, Dr Jonathan Copus, is stepping down on 28 February 2023, with chair Richard Bennett taking on the role of interim executive chairman as of today.
The company, which locates energy and minerals essential to the energy transition, said it has begun a search for a new CEO and will update the market in due course.
Dr Copus will be available to the board and the executive team to ensure a smooth and successful handover, it added.
"The board and I would like to thank Jonathan for his seven years of service. Jonathan has successfully repositioned Getech's business and applied the company's geoscience and geospatial expertise to new markets within the energy transition, in particular the search for critical minerals, geothermal, hydrogen and carbon storage projects. The products and solutions developed are vital for these fast-growing sectors and form the foundation for the future growth of the company,” said Bennett.
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Copus added: "In my time as Getech's CEO, I am proud of how the business has transformed into a champion of the energy transition, taking unique products and solutions that we built for the petroleum industry, and revolutionising their use to locate geothermal, carbon storage, hydrogen and critical mineral assets.
“Since raising growth capital in 2021, we have increased revenue by 40% and significantly diversified and decarbonised the sources of this revenue - with over 33% now coming from non-hydrocarbon origin. Underpinning this is an orderbook that has grown by 70%, to a record high, and Getech has begun 2023 with a strong asset-backed balance sheet. I have personally decided that now is the right time for me to take up a new challenge. The Company is in a strong position, and I am certain it will thrive under new leadership."
The company highlighted Bennett’s “extensive business and listed company experience” over a career spanning 30 years. He has worked for General Electric in Asia and the US and co-founded and listed on NASDAQ J2Global, an internet telecoms business currently valued at US$4.3bn.
He has worked in executive, chairman and non-executive roles with a series of highly successful growth-focused technology and clean energy companies, including the AIM-quoted wireless technology company, MTI Wireless Edge.