On the Move: New MD for British Gas Energy

In our latest round-up of industry appointments, Centrica has appointed a new managing director of its retail arm British Gas Energy. Elsewhere Thames Water has announced a new customer challenge group chair while Ovo and Tideway have both made changes to their boards.

Centrica

Centrica has announced Catherine O’Kelly will become managing director of new residential and small business arm British Gas Energy next month.

The British Gas segment of Centrica’s business was split into two operating segments earlier this year. British Gas Energy supplies 250,000 domestic customers and 450,000 small business customers. The other segment is British Gas Services and Solutions.

O’Kelly, who replaces Peter Simon, has been with Centrica since 2011 and as held various roles. Most recently she led Bord Gáis Energy in Ireland for two years.

Under her leadership, profitability in Bord Gáis grew and new products and services were introduced to Irish customers.

Chris O’Shea, Centrica group chief executive, said: “I am excited to welcome Catherine back after her maternity leave and firmly believe she will build on the early progress we have made in turning around British Gas Energy.

“As a leader, she combines great customer focus and commercial experience with a genuine passion for engaging and developing her teams. Peter leaves with my sincere thanks for all the work he has done over the last three years, and we wish him all the best in the future.”

O’Kelly said: “It is a great privilege to have been appointed to lead British Gas Energy. We have a solid foundation to build on, and I am excited by how we are working to serve our customers differently and more simply.

“We have a fantastic team of highly skilled and capable people, and I look forward to working with them and Chris to continue the turnaround of the business.”

Thames Water

Sukhvinder Kaur-Stubbs has begun her role as Thames Water’s new customer challenge group (CCG) chair.

Formed in 2012, the CCG is an independent body which provides reporting and commentary about Thames Water’s business activities and helps ensure customer voices are represented in the development of the company’s future business plans and ambitions. 

Kaur-Stubbs is currently chair of regeneration at the London Legacy Development Corporation, and is also vice chair at Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust. She has recently joined the board of the Regulator of Social Housing to oversee the development of new consumer standards.

For 12 years she was chief executive of the Barrow Cadbury Trust and of the Runnymede Trust. She has also held leadership roles at the Regional Development Agency for the West Midlands and on the boards of Severn Trent and the government’s watchdog Consumer Focus and before that EnergyWatch.

Sarah Bentley, Thames Water chief executive, said: “Sukhvinder’s dedication to consumer advocacy, alongside her understanding of the issues our customers face will be a great help as we continue to deliver our business turnaround plan. We’re looking forward to working closely together to make the changes we need to for our customers, communities and environment to thrive.”

Kaur-Stubbs said: “I’m excited to join Thames Water’s Customer Challenge Group. At this pivotal point it is especially important to understand the rich diversity of customers and reflect their full range of experiences.

“I’m looking forward to listening to and hearing from customers directly to inform how Thames Water carries out its work and improves as a business.”

Kaur-Stubbs replaces Anne Heal, who stepped down from her role as CCG Chair last year and Tony Redmond, who was acting chair from April 2020 to June 2021.

Ovo

Stacey Cartwright has stepped down as chair of the Ovo Energy board in order to concentrate on other business and personal interests. Ovo Group chair Stephen Murphy will assume Cartwright’s role with immediate effect.

Cartwright joined the Ovo Energy board in April 2020. During her time as chair she oversaw the integration of the SSE business and helped steer the company through the pandemic.

She said: “Ovo is a special company and it has been inspiring to work with so many people committed to driving the world to zero carbon. It is very clear that the future of energy belongs to companies that can think differently and I have no doubt that Ovo will be in the very front of that group.

“Ovo is led by a terrific, dynamic and united team, and I will be watching keenly to see how they continue to successfully drive the business forward to realise the vision.”

Murphy, who has chaired the Ovo Group board since 2015, will take over Cartwright’s role. He was the first chief executive of Virgin Group to succeed the role after Richard Branson and is chairman of GYG and London and Capital.

He said: “’I would like to thank Stacey for the insight and leadership she has given Ovo as we have integrated the acquisition of SSE and built our retail platform.

“I am proud to have been part of the Ovo team for seven years as we have grown to be a major provider. I look forward to continuing that journey as we step up to the massive challenges of decarbonising the UK energy industry and to bringing true digital capability for our customers.”

Tideway

Tideway, the company behind the Thames super sewer, has announced changes to its board.

The company’s chief technical officer, Roger Bailey, joins the board having worked on the project since 2012. His appointment reflects the fact the project is moving towards the completion and handover stages.

In the early part of the project’s development Bailey was instrumental in defining the project requirements and agreeing the technical interaction between Tideway and the existing Thames Water sewer network.

He said: “Joining the board of Tideway signals an exciting new phase as we look to the latter stages of the project, including commissioning and operational handover to Thames Water.

“Having been part of the team since the early project definition stage I am delighted to be joining the board and look forward to seeing the project through to completion.”

Meanwhile chief operating officer Mark Sneesby is to step down in September after seven years with the organisation. He joined Tideway in 2014 from Thames Water where he was head of major projects.

He said: “It has been a privilege to be part of Tideway and I am proud of what we have achieved over several years.

“Delivering a major new piece of infrastructure through the heart of a busy working city has been one of the greatest challenges of my career; with the project in good shape and the next phase in sight, it is the right time for me to move on. I wish the team every success in delivering the project to its conclusion and realising the legacy of a cleaner River Thames.”