Senior appointment strengthens executive leadership as Protium transitions from commercial deployment to national delivery, progressing the 15MW Cromarty Project toward FID and scaling its UK green hydrogen portfolio.
Protium, one of the UK’s leading green hydrogen energy companies, today announces the appointment of Kader Hidra as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Hidra will lead Protium’s finance function as the company scales from operating the UK’s first and largest commercial green hydrogen facilities toward a national portfolio of industrial-scale projects.
The appointment comes at a pivotal moment, following the strategic acquisition of the 15MW Cromarty Green Hydrogen Production Facility and wider Scottish portfolio, alongside the official opening of its 2.5MW Pioneer 2 facility in South Wales, with Protium advancing a sizeable development pipeline. The company is preparing major regional projects, including Cromarty, where a Final Investment Decision (FID) is targeted for December 2026.
Hidra brings more than 25 years of experience across capital markets, industrial finance, and clean technology. He began his financial career in London at Morgan Stanley during the foundational wave of wind and solar power IPOs. He later led Investor Relations at EDF Group, raising equity and debt for nuclear and renewable energy businesses. In 2020, as CFO of Carbios (Euronext Growth: ALCRB), the French enzymatic plastic-recycling innovator, he raised over €100 million in equity and structured €30 million in European Investment Bank (EIB) debt financing. Most recently, as CFO of Euronext Growth-listed Hydrogen Refuelling Solutions (HRS), he deepened his expertise in the hydrogen sector.
Kader Hidra, CFO of Protium, said:
“I am delighted to join Protium at such a defining moment for the business and for UK green hydrogen. Protium has done the hard part. The Protium teams are delivering real hydrogen to real customers today, showcasing a compelling competitive advantage while much of the sector remains on the drawing board. I look forward to building the financial foundations that turn that operational track record into industrial scale, and to giving our investors and partners the confidence to back the next phase of growth.”
Chris Jackson, CEO and Founder of Protium, said:
“Welcoming Kader to Protium is a significant milestone as we transition from commercial deployment to multi-megawatt industrial delivery. Kader’s exceptional track record across capital markets, green corporate finance, and scale-up execution makes him ideally suited to lead our financial strategy. As we take the 15MW Cromarty Green Hydrogen Production Facility toward FID and accelerate our pipeline, Kader’s expertise will be key to unlocking the capital required to decarbonise UK industry.”
With an expanding operational footprint and an ambitious target of over 90MW in development across the UK, Protium continues to set the standard for green hydrogen deployment, delivering zero-emission energy solutions directly to industrial and mobility clients.
ABOUT PROTIUM
Protium is one of the UK’s leading green hydrogen companies. We make green hydrogen simple for customers by providing end-to-end solutions that help businesses decarbonise reliably, affordably, and safely, replacing fossil fuels across various sectors, including construction, manufacturing, industrial, and transport.
By pioneering the scale-up and adoption of green hydrogen and its derivatives in the UK, Protium delivers practical hydrogen solutions that work today. Our capabilities span production, distribution, and on-site deployment, supported by expert guidance from technical services to commercial development to enable a confident transition to a cleaner, more resilient energy future.
Protium’s growing national portfolio spans a planned network of three production sites and four distribution hubs. Operational assets include the flagship Pioneer 2 facility in Wales and the South Coast Hydrogen Hub in Dorset, complemented by key growth projects such as the newly planning-approved Cromarty Green Hydrogen Production Facility in Scotland and project hubs in South Teesside.
Media Contact: Protium Media at media_enquiries@protium.com