Ofgem announces director reshuffle

Ofgem has reshuffled its senior leadership team, announcing eight role changes.

While most of the appointments are internal promotions or sideways moves within the organisation, Ofgem has also drafted in two recruits from government to bolster its ranks.

Melinda Johnson will assume the role of chief operating officer from August joining from the Department of Health and Social Care. She replaces Richard Smith who has been acting in the role on an interim basis since May 2023.

Johnson joins after six years as commercial director at the health department. She said: “I cannot think of a sector that is more exciting and rewarding to work within right now.”

Also joining from government is Tim Jarvis who previously worked at the Treasury. Jarvis will assume the role of director general of markets, leading Ofgem’s “efforts to ensure fair prices for customers and a resilient retail market, while protecting the most vulnerable in a journey towards a low-cost transition to net zero”.

Jarvis added: “I do not underestimate the challenge, as we transition to net zero, of creating a more stable, viable and innovative market where customers are protected and treated fairly and reasonably.”

As part of the reshuffle, Ofgem has formally announced the appointment of Akshay Kaul as director general of infrastructure. Kaul has been acting in the position on an interim basis since October but has now been given the role full time.

He joined Ofgem in 2017 and previously held the position of director of networks responsible for the economic regulation of Great Britain’s energy networks. This included the development of the next generation of onshore network price controls (RIIO2), the regulation of offshore transmission infrastructure and the delivery of a cross-border interconnection programme through the cap and floor regime.

On his appointment, Kaul said: “Net zero will require a tremendous investment in grid and generation infrastructure; but also, the creation of an intelligent system where the demand can flex to follow variable supply.”

Other internal moves see Charlotte Friel appointed as the regulator’s security and resilience officer, while Stuart Okin becomes director of cyber regulation having previous set up the cyber regulatory function at Ofgem.

Neil Lawrence has also been moved across to become director of delivery and schemes having previously headed up Ofgem’s retail division which will now be led by Neil Kenward. Kenward takes on the retail directorship as well as acting as interim director general of markets until Jarvis starts in September. That is in addition to his role as director of strategy and decarbonisation.

Finally, the regulator has appointed Peter Bingham as the interim director for system planning, engineering, and technology (SPEnT). Bingham joined the regulator in 2017 as chief engineer and was previously interim director of analysis and assurance, looking after the Regulatory Finance, Office of Research & Economics, and Engineering Hub functions.