About Katharos
Katharos is a waste & recycling infrastructure developer dedicated to the dual objectives of sustainable and commercial project development for the circular economy. Our main focus is delivering new Material Recovery Facility and Municipal Solid Waste capacity.
Katharos will contribute to the £10 billion of new recycling infrastructure required by 2035 to meet the UK's recycling and circular economy objectives (UK GOV, DEFRA, 2024).
Through our extensive experience of driving profitability and efficiencies whilst decarbonizing energy systems and industrial processes we aim to transform UK waste management and recycling capacity, as well as other target markets.
Backed by a team of experts across the renewables, waste, recycling and infrastructure sectors, we specialize in creating innovative circular economy facilities.
Our waste projects include one or more of: advanced Materials Recovery Facilities, pyrolysis oil production, energy and decarbonized industrial processes.
Our core business is UK waste and recycling for Commercial and Industrial, Local Authority/ Municipal, and Energy from Waste waste streams.
​
Committed to sustainability, our mission is to increase UK recycling capacity and drive growth through technology, innovation, and circular economy principles.
​
​
Heading 3
Our Team.
Katharos’ team includes experienced and skilled professionals covering the waste and recycling sector, renewable energy and the infrastructure development business model; with the requisite multi-discipline project, financial, technical and delivery expertise to deliver value for our partners.
Francis Mann - CEO
Francis has 15 years of experience in energy and infrastructure projects, including managing large-scale renewable and conventional O&G projects around the world, with BP and Lightsource bp.
His notable achievements include leading the Brechin Castle 122MWp solar project in Trinidad and Tobago, the countries first utility renewable project, and over 150MWp of projects across the UK, with extensive international exposure and new market entries across multiple geographies.
​
He has held senior leadership positions with multi-nationals and previous start ups.
Hamish Courtauld - Finance Director
​Hamish provides experience from across the investment banking, infrastructure development, and accounting sectors. He began his career in UK Government audit and value-for-money roles across the energy and business sectors, before spending over three years in investment banking, specialising in renewable energy infrastructure at a pan-European M&A advisory firm. Most recently, he has worked in-house for a renewable energy and industrial developer, focusing on strategy and capital raising. He is a qualified chartered accountant with experience across the value chain and in both equity and debt.
Daniel Larkin - COO
Dan brings extensive expertise in capital raising and business management, with a strong background in project finance and sector-specific development. His early career included the delivery of international data centre projects for Dell and Google, followed by four years as European Director at Westchester Export Capital, where he built deep international trade and financing experience. During this period, Dan successfully structured and raised multiple credit facilities, including lines of up to USD 20 million, supporting complex cross-border transactions.
Patrick Venn - Technical Lead
Patrick provides independent engineering advice and technical support within the waste industry, leveraging his extensive experience in process engineering and technology innovation. Notably, he was the lead process engineer for Veolia’s £70 million plastic recycling facility, pioneering robotics and AI sorting, and has deep knowledge of regulatory frameworks and waste-to-value strategies.
Our Business Model
Katharos Business Model
Katharos operates with a capital-efficient model focused on developing, constructing, and managing infrastructure projects, partnering with strategic investors to fund future growth and technology partners to drive efficiency and productivity. This comprehensive approach involves identifying and developing sites, engineering solutions, building infrastructure, and providing ongoing management and operational services.
Value is generated through the funding partnerships of our in development and operational assets and ongoing asset management, which can include long-term agreements and operational oversight for third parties. The model supports the achievement of low-carbon and sustainable infrastructure goals, in particular focus is recycling and waste management services.
​
Key components of the business model:
Develop and Construct: Katharos develops sustainable waste management & recycling infrastructure projects from early-stage greenfield sites through to ready-to-build status, including site selection, permitting including planning and environment authority licences, feedstock and offtake agreements, engineering, and construction.
Asset Management: Katharos offer ongoing management and operations for our own infrastructure assets, ensuring long-term value creation through technical, commercial, and financial oversight.
​
Partnerships: Katharos collaborates with corporates, investors, government and other developers, facilitating the growth of recycling and sustainable infrastructure portfolios.
​
Integration with Strategic Objectives: As Katharos aligns with broader government and corporate decarbonization and infrastructure goals, the model leverages finance, trading, and transition strategies to maximize impact and growth.
Our Board.
The Katharos Board includes practised executives with extensive experience in finance, infrastructure, renewables, energy, and technology. Together they provide strategic oversight and governance, leveraging their diverse backgrounds in investment, development, and industry leadership.
Kareen Boutonnat - Chair
Kareen brings a diverse and dynamic background to our board.
She began her career in Silicon Valley, working with two successful tech venture startups before transitioning into the solar industry.
With over 12 years of experience at Lightsource bp, Kareen served as the CEO for EMEA and APAC regions, demonstrating her leadership and strategic vision on a global scale.
​
Kareen also sits on the boards of Powerverse and Theta Solar.
Sir Edward Greenwell - NED
Sir Edward is an entrepreneur and co-owner of Greenwell Farms, along with several other development businesses.
His leadership roles include being a former Trustee of the National Trust, President of the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), High Sheriff of Suffolk, and Chairman of the District Council.
Sir Edward brings his broad experience in land management, development, and community engagement to the Katharos board.
Daniel Larkin - COO
Dan brings extensive expertise in capital raising and business management, with a strong background in project finance and sector-specific development.
His early career included the delivery of international data centre projects for Dell and Google, followed by four years as European Director at Westchester Export Capital, where he built deep international trade and financing experience. During this period, Dan successfully structured and raised multiple credit facilities, including lines of up to USD 20 million, supporting complex cross-border transactions.
Hugh Grootenhuis - NED
Hugh is an established investment and finance expert, having previously served as CEO of Waverton Investment Management (formerly JO Hambro).
He is currently an Independent Non-Executive Director of Raymond James Wealth Management in the UK, including Chair of Audit and Risk.
Hugh is also Chairman of FundRock Management (Ireland) Ltd and is an advisor to S W Mitchell Capital LLP, a European asset manager. Hugh is also a Trustee of the Perivoli Foundation, a private charity active in sub-Saharan Africa.
Francis Mann - CEO
Francis has 15 years of experience in energy and infrastructure projects, including managing large-scale renewable and conventional O&G projects around the world, with BP and Lightsource bp.
His notable achievements include leading the Brechin Castle 122MWp solar project in Trinidad and Tobago, the countries first utility renewable project, and over 150MWp of projects across the UK, with extensive international exposure and new market entries across multiple geographies.
​
He has held senior leadership positions with multi-nationals and previous start ups.
