Over 40 Years in Telecom

Gordon Shields founded Shields Environmental in 1979 and quickly adopted the challenge of making environmental excellence a part of everyday business.

Gordon has since received continual recognition for his 40 plus years of experience in developing cutting-edge environmental management capabilities and developing them into successful businesses.

In 2000 Gordon and his team developed a solution for the mobile phone regarding safe and secure recycling, named Fonebak (later renamed Regenersis). He and his team floated this on AIM in 2005 with a market capitalisation of £25 million. With his team he grew this business from zero turnover in 2000 to £100m turnover and £6m profits before retiring as Chairman in 2008. That business reached a market capitalisation of over £300m and has now transformed into Blancco.

The company Shields continues to be a successful business in the telecoms sector and has grown to service the largest networks around the world.

Gordon’s focus is now working with his son to substantially grow Shields Energy Services. The company’s proposition combines advanced data analytics with intelligent building control in a unique manner enabling large commercial estate holders to achieve energy cost and opex savings.

Gordon served on the Leadership Board of Business in the Community’s (BITC) Environment Division from 1996 to 2008. In addition, Gordon was invited by the UK’s Environment Minister to serve on a steering group that assisted the UK Government in meeting its environmental targets and on a UK Government Business Task Force on Sustainability. Gordon has also contributed to the efforts of the United Nations Environmental Programme and was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) for his contribution to the environment.

Tony was Chief Executive of Cable & Wireless, the international telecoms operator until the end of 2014.  Previously, he was Joint Managing Director and Finance Director for CW, Chief Executive of Tunstall Healthcare, Europe’s largest telecare and telehealth business as well as serving as Group Treasurer at British Aerospace and its successor company BAE Systems for 16 years, ultimately becoming Group MD of Commercial Aircraft, responsible for its Airbus and Regional Aircraft business units. He also was involved in the launch of Orange Mobile Telephone and Airbus Industries during this time.

Tony is currently Chairman of Dechra Plc, the UK’s leading animal healthcare company and Non-Executive Director and Senior Independent Director of Halma Plc. He has been a NED and Senior Independent Director for Spirit Pub Company plc since 2008 and serves as a Trustee for the Whittington Hospital Trust.

He had been involved with various privately opened companies as a Chairman and investor most notably Alexander Mann Solutions, the market leading HR outsource company and currently Xerxes Equity and Atlas Software Solutions.

A qualified Chartered Accountant (ACA), David spent 14 years with Kingston Smith LLP where he was both a trainee and latterly a Partner. He was responsible for general corporate and professional advice to SME’s, their Directors and shareholders.

David originally joined Shields in 2000 and soon became Finance Director. After the successful de-merger and AIM listing of the mobile phones segment of the Shields business in 2005 he joined Fonebak PLC (Latterly Regenersis PLC), holding the position of Divisional Finance Director and General Manager. David returned to Shields during 2013 as Chief Financial Officer.