GREEN power company Helius Energy yesterday said it had appointed a non-executive director to lead its overseas operations.

Demetri Pappadopoulos, who was born in Zimbabwe, will look after Middlesbrough-based Helius' plans to expand in Southern Africa.

The firm, listed on the Alternative Investment Market, wants to develop biomass-fired renewable energy plants in Southern Africa, which is facing a growing energy crisis, with countries such as South Africa having power output close to capacity.

Yesterday, Helius chairman Alex Worrall said he was delighted that Mr Pappadopoulos had joined the board.

"He is an influential business leader and will bring his undoubted personal drive and passion for the bio-energy sector to assist Helius achieve its ambitious roll-out targets in Southern Africa," he said.

Through its Southern African subsidiary Helius Energy Africa (Pty) Ltd, the company is in talks with the Government of Zambia to establish power plants, and upgrade existing facilities, and with the Government of the Kingdom of Swaziland over a power supply agreement,

It is also negotiating to become an independent power provider to Eskom, one of the largest electricity exporters in South Africa, which will take the lead in meeting the country's energy needs over the next five years.

All such projects will be overseen by Mr Pappadopoulos, who was recently listed as one of the most influential business leaders in Africa by Business in Africa magazine.

The 37-year-old was born in Zimbabwe and educated at the University of Cape Town, where he achieved degrees in law and economics.

In 1997, he was appointed legal advisor and company secretary to Steers, South Africa's largest fast food industry franchise, becoming the company's youngest ever board director. Since his departure from Steers in 2002, he has established more than 70 businesses in Africa, ranging from fast food outlets and bakeries to industrial chemical companies.

Mr Pappadopoulos is also on the board of Middlesbrough biodiesel company D1 Oils. As chief executive of D1 Oils Africa, he leads the firm's operations in Southern Africa, where it has a number of Jatropha plantations.

Helius floated on the Alternative Investment Market in February to help finance at least two £100m biomass power plants in the UK, in Hartlepool and Lincolnshire, as well as smaller plants in Southern Africa.