On the move: Shell Energy names CEO of B2B supply arm

In our latest roundup of industry appointments, Shell Energy has named the new chief executive of its B2B supply arm after Paul Hellings stepped down in December; Yorkshire Water has a new non-executive director with experience across financial roles and the water sector; and Portsmouth Water has appointed a regulatory director who held senior roles at the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and Ofcom.

Jodie Eaton is the new chief executive at Shell’s B2B energy supply arm, bringing more than 30 years’ experience to the company from commercial, trading and retail energy businesses. Eaton joined Shell Energy as chief operating officer in September 2020 and was previously a board member at Npower where she led its business solutions division, and has also worked for Eon and TXU Energy. Hellings left the position in December after two years leading the retail arm and establishing what the general manager Giorgia Arnaboldi descrbed as “a strong platform for us to build on.”

United Utilities’ former chief financial officer, Russ Houlden, has joined Yorkshire Water as non-executive director this month.

Houlden has held a series of chair and financial roles including at BT and The 100 Group and is currently sitting as chair of the audit committees at Babcock International and Orange Polska. At United Utilities, Houlden was responsible for leading the finance function between 2010 and 2020, including supporting the turnaround of the organisation. He sits on the boards of both Yorkshire Water and its parent company Kelda Holdings as a non-executive director.

Portsmouth Water has beefed up its regulatory team with a new director who has worked at both Ofcom and the CMA. Lara Stoimenova founded regulatory consultancy group Sigma Economics and sits on the Jersey Competition Regulatory Authority Board and as a trustee of the Reform Think Tank. Stoimenova’s previous roles included senior positions at Ofcom and the CMA. As an independent non-executive director, Stoimenova will chair the audit and risk committee as well as joining a subgroup to oversee delivery of Portsmouth’s 2024 business plan.

She said of joining Portsmouth: “The company is playing an increasingly important role in improving long term resilience and water security in the south east region, at the same time safeguarding and improving the natural environment. In addition, the PR24 business planning process presents new challenges and I am looking forward to bringing my knowledge and experience to the company to support the Board in these and other areas.”