On the Move: National Grid, SSE and Southern

Former minister for energy and clean growth, and ex-COP26 president Claire O’Neill (formerly Perry) has been appointed as managing director for climate and energy at the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).

O’Neill was outspoken about the government’s preparedness for COP26 and challenged its commitment to the climate change agenda after being sacked from her role in January.

The WBCSD said her appointment shows the organisation’s commitment to mobilising business to decarbonise globally and accelerate the shift to a sustainable economy.

WBCSD is an international group of more than 200 businesses working towards a sustainable world. O’Neill succeeds Maria Mendiluce who left in June to join We Mean Business Coalition.

National Grid

National Grid has announced that Paula Rosput Reynolds will succeed Sir Peter Gershon as its chair next year.

She will join the board on 1 January 2021 and assume the role after a transitionary period to last no later than the 2021 annual general meeting.

Rosput Reynolds is currently non-executive director at General Electric Company in the US and Senior Independent Director of BP, where she also chairs the remuneration committee.

She commenced her energy career at Pacific Gas & Electric Corp in 1979 and spent over 25 years in the energy industry.

She said: “I am honoured to be joining National Grid’s Board as the entire industry is evolving. I am looking forward to working with John Pettigrew and the rest of the Board and meeting National Grid employees and key stakeholders.”

Pettigrew said: “Paula brings a wealth of board level experience leading global companies in the energy and financial sectors. Her experience within international and US companies and insight into strategic and regulatory issues will be an asset to the Board and I look forward to working alongside her.”

Southern Water

Dr Toby Willison, executive director of operations and former acting chief executive at the Environment Agency, will join Southern Water as natural capital and environment director from November.

Willison’s role will include overseeing the Water for Life programme, sustainability and natural capital and continuing work to build effective working partnerships with key stakeholders, regulators and government.

Chief executive Ian McAulay said: “I’m delighted to welcome Toby to the Southern Water Team, his expertise and experience of delivering sustainable capital infrastructure projects and environmental solutions will be of great impact for SWS.  In an area of population growth and water stress Toby will help accelerate our delivery of a resilient water future for the South East.”

Willison’s role at the EA included delivering its Net Zero 2030 programme and project managing the construction of flood defences. He is also a non-executive director at British Water.

SSE

Meanwhile SSE has appointed Chris Burchell as electricity distribution managing director. Burchell joins from Arriva where he has been managing director of UK trains for the past six years.

From 2013 Burchell was a non-executive director of Ofwat for three years and has held roles at Go-Ahead Group, Thames Trains and the Rail Delivery Group. He will join SSE in January ahead of Colin Nicol’s departure in April 2021.

Chief executive Alistair Phillips-Davies said: “Colin will leave SSE with our good wishes and our thanks. He established an extensive programme of modernisation, embedding new technology and driving significant business improvement programmes as well as steps forward in our approach to safety. I have every confidence Chris will build on these strong foundations by driving further improvements in the remainder of RIIO-ED1 and delivering a compelling plan for net zero and customers for RIIO-ED2.”