The Team
Bruce Elliott, Chief Executive
Bruce's interest in the environment began during his student days. He began making regular contributions to Greenpeace in 1991, something he continues to this day. However it took a career change from plastic and reconstructive surgery in 2005 to find the time to get seriously involved in the environment.
Inspired by a company called Terrapass in the United States, Bruce began to realise that regulated markets could be a far more effective way to incentivise climate change reversal than the traditional method of giving to charities. Combined with campaigns to reduce carbon-hungry lifestyles, markets set up by the United Nations were paving the way for huge reductions in global emissions on a hitherto-unseen scale. Clear was founded to bridge the gap between these global markets and ordinary members of the public, allowing them to fund additional emissions reductions beyond those achieved in their own lives.
Bruce draws from previous experience as Director and Chairman at 9web, a successful web design and development agency in the not-for-profit and higher education sectors, consultancy on healthcare systems for BUPA, and thirteen years with the NHS. He lives in South London with his partner Annemiek and enjoys sailing and playing the piano (badly).
Ben Hedley, Operations Director
Ben was involved at Clear from an early stage. His background in engineering and thermodynamics proved invaluable in the design of the carbon footprint calculators that power Clear's website. Many of the facts and advice on the website come from his own research.
Ben has considerable experience through a variety of roles prior to Clear. These include Head of Sales and Marketing at Outcome Technologies, a BUPA subsidiary, and Head of UK Pricing at DHL. He began his career in the strategy team at Mercer Management Consulting. Ben also lives in South London; he skis, sails and surfs when he gets the time.
Neil Chapman, Finance Director
Neil was actually 'first in' at Clear, recognising the potential for carbon offset to give consumers more direct control over climate change and introducing Bruce to the concept in 2005. His detailed understanding of the energy markets was instrumental in devising Clear's Kyoto-principled approach to carbon offset.
Formerly of Contango AS and Credit Suisse First Boston investment bank, Neil holds a wealth of knowledge in derivatives trading markets, risk management and managing software projects in the financial sector. He has nearly ten years of experience in the financial trading markets in London, Houston, New York and Oslo.
Neil lives in Oslo with Cathinka and a vociferous young daughter named Maya.
Ian Cruickshank, Communications Director
Ian got involved in Clear because he wanted to do more. He realised his efforts to reduce his carbon footprint weren't enough and never would be. Carbon emissions for Ian (like many of us) are an unavoidable fact of life and so he started researching offsetting solutions.
After an extensive trawl of offsetting options he focussed in on CERs as the most effective approach. However, rather than just offset he contacted Clear with a desire to help them reach out to more people and ultimately offset and decrease more emissions.
His motivation is his two kids. In years to come, Ian wants to be able say that he did more than the bare minimum to avert damaging climate change.
Ian is a marketing executive with more than 15 years experience in corporate communication. He lives in Middlesex with his wife and two young children.
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