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Ovo Energy has launched a new dedicated electric vehicle (EV) division and has appointed the co-founder of former disruptor brand Tonik Energy as its managing director.
Chris Russell co-founded Tonik in 2015 and the company had acquired around 130,000 customers when it ceased trading in October last year. 
In an announcement this morning (22 March) Russell was unveiled as the managing director of Ovo Drive where he will be responsible for continuing to expand the company’s current EV offering.
Additionally he will bring new products and propositions to market for Ovo’s existing customers, as well as developing new partnerships and routes to market.
Furthermore, the new managing director will work with Kaluza to use the technology platform to optimise customer devices.
His appointment follows the hires last September of Ovo Energy chief executive Ben Blake and Simon Maine, director of corporate affairs.
Commenting on the appointment, Blake said: “Chris was ahead of the pack in the electric vehicle space when running Tonik Energy, and we’re incredibly lucky to have Chris join us and bring a wealth of experience in the energy sector to Ovo.
“We have an opportunity to decarbonise the energy sector and accelerate the electrification of transport. Chris will play a critical role in exploring those possibilities for our members.”
Russell said: “I’m delighted to be joining Ovo at such a pivotal moment. Ovo’s brand, scale, people and capabilities mean we are well placed to lead the way in the electric vehicle market. I look forward to working with the team to make electric vehicles a core part of the Ovo proposition, Plan Zero strategy and everyday life.”
Severn Trent
Meanwhile, water company Severn Trent has announced one of its board members is to step down.
Dominique Reiniche has been a non-executive director for almost five years and has announced her intention to retire from the board following the company’s AGM on 8 July.
Northern Powergrid
Distribution network operator Northern Powergrid has announced the appointment of two new regional managers for Teesside and the Humber.
Heather Woodhead joins from Yorkshire Water and becomes the regional manager for the company’s Humber region while Gordon Burrows, who joins from Scottish Power Energy Networks, takes on the role in Teesside. 
Andy Bilclough, Northern Powergrid’s director of field operations, said: “Heather and Gordon bring a diverse range of talents to our team of six regional leaders. Being able to think regionally and deliver locally is key if we are to manage, maintain and invest in the network that powers communities which have different needs.
“Our frontline teams play a key role when it comes to delivering the network that powers the region today – particularly when our customers need us most like during the pandemic – but they will also have a key role in delivering our ambitions for tomorrow which support a green recovery and help enable net zero across the regions we serve.”
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