About us

Dr. Alex Mardapittas founded the company in 2001. An experienced chartered engineer, with a research doctorate, Alex used his extensive knowledge and experience to spearhead Powerstar for over 20 years, before becoming Chairman in February 2023.

Solon assumed the position of CEO in February 2023, intent on continuing to lead the business through a period of rapid growth. Previously, Solon oversaw all product development, product optimisation, technical issues and R&D. This encompassed numerous engineering disciplines, from large scale power engineering and design to micro-scale engineering such as PCB design. Solon holds a Masters in Chemistry, which includes research projects in organic electronics, and is also a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Institute of Directors.

David Seabridge joined the Powerstar team as Chief Financial Officer in September 2022 and is responsible for all company finances, FP&A activity and Human Resources.

A qualified accountant with over 20 years of senior Board Level experience in financial, commercial and operational roles in high growth and complex businesses where he has been key to strategy and market development.

He has a reputation for driving fast, sustainable, profitable growth both organically and through the identification, execution and integration of acquisitions and building value for shareholders

David has a proven track record of implementing change management initiatives through deep involvement in the company’s operations, sponsoring critical appraisals of all aspects of each business unit and introducing continuous improvement methodologies.

Colin is International Partner at SCF Partners. Prior to that, Colin served as Head of International Energy Investment Banking at Simmons & Company International.

Steve is the former CEO and current Chairman of TPI Composites and led the company to become the largest independent global wind blade manufacturer, with over 15,000 employees.

He also recently helped spearhead the creation of the newly established American Clean Power Association (ACP).

Simon joined Powerstar as Head of Design in March 2022,  In October 2022 he became the Head of Design and Engineering, responsible for keeping those departments working together to improve productivity. A Member of the IET, Simon has years of experience in the Oil and gas industry and extensive knowledge of Low Voltage AC System and  DC systems, leading to him being a recognised professional in the electrical field.

Driven by a growth mindset and attention to detail resulting in a passion for electrical engineering,  Simon has a proven track record of leading engineering teams with a strong focus on accuracy and integrity.

Richard Kerr joined the business as Marketing Executive in March 2017. Proving a valuable member of the Powerstar team with a strategic mindset, Richard has headed the marketing team at Powerstar since June 2019.

With 10 years’ experience in marketing across multiple sectors, and professional qualification and associate membership with the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Richard is passionate about the power of marketing to grow the business and achieve its ambitious targets.

Richard is also Powerstar’s Mental Health First Aider after driving the initiative during the COVID-19 lockdowns.

Since January 2021, Olivia has been the Head of Technical at Powerstar. She is passionate about driving innovation and technical excellence within the company. Olivia directs and supports her team in developing advanced modelling, simulation, and AI algorithms, creating and implementing customised control strategies, designing PCB control boards, and developing SCADA systems for a range of applications, including smart grids, large-scale UPS, energy saving and optimisation systems.

Olivia leads her team to work closely with other departments in delivering sound technical solutions for commercial projects. Prior to her current role, Olivia served as a Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) associate at Powerstar, starting in June 2016, before transitioning to the role of Product Development Engineer at Powerstar in November 2019.

With a PhD in Power System and Control Engineering and an impressive portfolio of papers, patents, and software copyright, Olivia brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her current position. She joined the South Yorkshire Network Young Professional with the IET, and is now pursuing a Leadership and Management diploma.

Jason came from a background of electrical installation of UPS & Diesel generators (and many other sectors) as well as all their respective switchgear & controllers.  He spends a lot of time studying, in particular, the regulations associated with the industry & continually tries to improve his knowledge.

When not working, he spends time with his family & watching his children grow up is one of the most (if not the most) fulfilling experiences.

In 2023, Jason won the eFIXX top 30 under 30 award for electricians. This left him feeling proud and humbled.

Nacer joined the Powerstar team in 2019 in manufacturing. After gaining knowledge and an understanding of the systems he quickly gained responsibility and career development moving from manufacturing to management.

Proving to be a valuable and hard-working member of the business with a strive for continuous improvement, Nacer has headed the Asset team since early 2023, responsible for maximising the uptime of all the VO and BESS systems.

Nacer holds a BEng degree in electrical and electronic engineering. He is a member of the Institute of Engineering and Technology.

Dean is an experienced Sales leader with extensive knowledge of channel partnerships, management, coaching and developing both successful sales teams and team members.

He has over a decade of industry experience working with suppliers and TPI’s. Dean is responsible for driving sales and close-working strategic partnerships as Powerstar looks to expand both within the UK and Internationally.

Graham Bailey joined the Powerstar team as General Manager of our Bromsgrove transformer manufacturing facility in August 2022.

Graham has a proven track record of success in U.K and overseas in operational, manufacturing and logistics roles over 25 years. He possesses a strong background in electrical/electronic manufacturing. Graham has also gained valuable diverse experience in the precision engineering, warehouse and logistics sectors. A change agent, he has worked as a consultant to both start-up and evolving businesses prior to joining Powerstar.

A results-orientated and success-driven professional with excellent business planning skills. A green belt in six sigma, he adopts a methodical and analytical approach to solving problems.

Graham is qualified in Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Mechanical engineering. He has a Post Graduate Diploma in management as part of an MBA course.

Chris has a proven track record of over 30 years’ manufacturing experience in a variety of industries, including Aerospace, Defence and Oil & Gas, with multi-site responsibility both UK and Worldwide based.  Additional responsibility for Health & Safety, Quality and Environmental systems have been undertaken, whilst also ensuring that Lean Manufacturing and Change Management activities have been implemented to make business and process improvements throughout.

With a strong hands-on leadership approach and extensive knowledge of many industries, networking and communication skills have provided businesses and teams with management that is clear and precise, directional, and guided. The ability to develop staff and staff/team relationships has resulted in a more focused and productive environment