On the move: Ofwat, SSE, Rebel Energy

In our latest round-up of appointments across the utilities sector, Ofwat has named four non-executive directors; SSE welcomes a new managing director; the government confirms its net zero business champion and emerging energy supplier Rebel beefs up its team ahead of market launch.

Ofwat

The water regulator has named four new non-executive directors to its board including former Drax retail director Jonathan Kini, who currently is managing director of TalkTalk Business.

Former MP Seema Kennedy served as parliamentary undersecretary of state at both the Home Office and the Department of Health and Social Care in 2019 as well as chairing a loneliness commission. Kennedy’s background is in corporate law and business.

David Jones holds non-executive roles at Ofcom and Qualifications Wales and brings experience from a digital technology and business transformation background as well as understanding of Welsh policy landscape.

Nichola Bruce, a former consultant with a background in corporate governance in regulated markets and championing the interests of vulnerable customers. Bruce has board experience at Anchor Harvey Group ad has previously sat on the board at The Money Advice Service.

The four will join the board as current members Christine Farnish and Martin Lawrence conclude their terms and step down at the end of the month.

SSE

Chris Burchell has joined as managing director of SSEN Distribution, as announced earlier this year. He joined the company this month and will sit on the group executive committee from January, following a handover period with the current managing director, Colin Nicol. Nicol announced his intention to leave SSE in April 2021 earlier this year.

Burchell was most recently managing director for UK trains at Arriva, a role he held for six years. From 2013 to 2016 he was a director of Ofwat.

His immediate focus will be on preparing the draft business plan for RIIO ED2, which will be submitted next July.

UK government

Andrew Griffith MP has been appointed as the UK’s net zero business champion to support the business community in the transition to net zero by 2050.

He will work closely with the COP26 team and help businesses secure investment and create jobs. “Business has a central role to play in making a successful transition to a low carbon economy,” Griffith said. “Our global leadership on climate change can open up new large and attractive sectors in the world economy in which British businesses will be well placed to succeed.”

Rebel Energy

The soon-to-launch challenger brand has welcomed Mark Neveu as head of sales and partnerships to help launch the supplier in the market. Neveu has previously worked at both Tonik and Ecotricity so brings experience in creating rapid growth and managing relationships. The company is on track to launch in early 2021 with a social mission to alleviate fuel poverty as well as a mission to “renew, rebuild and restore”.