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New Managing Director of Sellafield Ltd
A joint statement was issued today by Nuclear Management Partners (NMP). Sellafield Ltd and the NDA announcing that William (Bill) Poulson has been appointed Managing Director and Chairman of the Sellafield Site Licence Company. Bill will replace Bob Pedde, the current Managing Director, who has reluctantly stepped down from his position because of a family health issue.
Bill Poulson was closely involved in NMP’s bid in the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority’s (NDA) competition to be the new Parent Body for Sellafield Ltd and is also a Board member of that Parent Body Organisation.
Tom Zarges, Chairman of NMP, said: “We are extremely sorry that Bob Pedde’s personal circumstances have prevented him continuing as the Managing Director, but we are pleased that he will continue supporting Sellafield Ltd on a part time basis as a Board member of Nuclear Management Partners.
“We are also delighted that we have such a high quality successor in Bill Poulson, who has vast experience in the nuclear industry. Bill has been closely involved in formulating the management strategy which we are putting into effect across the Sellafield Ltd sites and there will be no change in policy. This is business as usual.”
Dr Ian Hudson, the NDA’s Sellafield Programme Director said: “We were extremely sorry to hear that it is necessary for Bob Pedde to return to the United States. We wish him and his family best wishes and would like to thank him for all his hard work and commitment in supporting the NDA’s objectives during the last two years.
“The depth of capability within Nuclear Management Partners was one of the strengths of their bid and we have full confidence in the appointment of Bill Poulson as the new Managing Director of Sellafield Ltd. He has already been involved in the development of our partnership arrangements and we look forward to working alongside him and the Sellafield Ltd workforce in tackling the challenges that lie ahead.”
David Pethick, President of URS Washington Division’s Energy & Environment Group and NMP board member, said: “The partnership is committed to bringing our most talented people to Sellafield Ltd. Bill Poulson has vast experience in managing complex sites such as Sellafield and his leadership will be a tremendous asset as we continue our partnership with the NDA and the local communities around the Sellafield Ltd sites.”
Bill Poulson, who will reside in Cumbria, has worked in the nuclear industry for 35 years. He is currently Executive Vice President – Performance Assurance for URS Washington Division’s Energy and Environment business unit.
Previously he was in charge of all operations at Savannah River, the US’s closest equivalent to Sellafield. Earlier, as General Manager of the West Valley Demonstration Project, he started up and operated the first and only systems in the US to vitrify waste from reprocessing of commercial spent nuclear fuel. He received a US Government award for demonstrating “exemplary standards in safe operation” of the vitrification system.
