At the company’s annual general meeting Haythornthwaite said that the company has made preparations in case it is approached with a takeover offer.
He is reported by Reuters as saying: “Do we have, as a matter of just good governance, an approach to dealing with potential takeovers? Absolutely we do.”
Investment analysts at RBC Capital said it is not surprising that Centrica might be a takeover target.
“It has underperformed on the weak commodity environment but remains a company with a strong competitive position in the market,” the analysts said of the British Gas parent company.
Centrica declined to comment last summer on market rumours that it was in talks with Qatar over a takeover bid. Reports of possible takeover talks also surfaced in 2011 and 2012.
But RBC Capital said it does not see a takeover as likely ahead of UK general elections next week, or before the CMA review ends.
In addition Centrica is undertaking an internal strategic review which is due to conclude with a new strategy to be revealed in July this year.
Centrica shares are currently trading at two month highs but are still 18 per cent lower than at the same time last year.