Andrew Forrest’s green arm Fortescue Future Industries has lost a senior manager after its head of global brand, Simon Pestridge, departed the company.
DataRoom understands Mr Pestridge joined FFI in November 2021 at the time of the COP26 UN Climate Summit.
He was part of a growing team developing the Fortescue Metals Group’s green brand as it sought to execute a string of high-profile hydrogen deals.
However, he is understood to have departed in early September, after less than a year in the role.
Mr Pestridge did not respond to a request for comment on his exit. FFI said: “Simon has decided to move on to focus on other opportunities. We thank him for his work.”
Mr Pestridge was a former Nike marketing executive who left the sportswear giant in May 2018 amid a broader probe into the company’s workplace behaviour.
FFI recently teamed up with the TV show Rick and Morty to develop a “portal” aimed at educating people about green hydrogen – described as a miracle molecule by FFI – and its ability to tackle climate change.
The animated TV series follows the intergalactic adventures of an alcoholic scientist named Rick Sanchez and his grandson Morty.
On the corporate front, FFI now has 120 different development projects under consideration in 40 countries, with 1122 staff at the end of June – more than double the 500 it employed in October 2021.
That breakneck expansion has invariably led to a degree of corporate turnover, with the company’s North American president, Paul Browning, quitting after less than eight months in the role.
Julie Shuttleworth stepped down from the top FFI job as part of a management reshuffle earlier this year that saw Mr Forrest return as executive chairman.
New FFI boss Mark Hutchinson promised analysts there would be firm announcements on projects by the end of the year.
Fortescue unveiled a green plan last week to spend $US6.2bn ($9bn) removing fossil fuels from the iron ore miner’s production by 2030 as part of its decarbonisation strategy.
However, the move also raised investor concerns around the possible impact on dividends.
Peter “Rocky” O’Connor, Shaw and Partners resources analyst, asked last week for more information.
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