SSE has appointed John Manzoni to succeed Richard Gillingwater as chair of its board, the energy company announced this afternoon (28 July).
Manzoni, formerly chief executive of the civil service and permanent secretary to the cabinet office, will take on the role from 1 April 2021. He will initially join the board as non-executive director from 1 September this year.
The incoming chair has prior experience of working in the energy industry, having held senior executive roles within BP and Talisman Energy.
During his six years in the civil service, Manzoni was responsible for the administrative and commercial performance of government departments and oversaw preparations for a no-deal Brexit.
After stepping down from the civil service earlier in the summer, he was appointed as a non-executive director at beverage company Diageo, effective from 1 October.
He was previously non-executive director of SABMiller plc from 2004 to 2015, and chair of Leyshon Energy from 2013 to 2014.
Speaking of his latest appointment, Manzoni said: “With a strong, purpose-led management team, clear strategic focus and a pipeline of low-carbon investment opportunities, SSE is uniquely placed to lead the green economic recovery and to deliver value for shareholders and society through the transition to net zero emissions.
“I’m looking forward to leading the board and working with the executive team to realise SSE’s vision of being a leading energy company in a net zero world.”
Richard Gillingwater said: “After a comprehensive and rigorous selection process, we are very pleased that Sir John has agreed to lead the board. As well as having had a very successful executive career in energy, his recent experience within the public sector will provide a hugely valuable perspective as SSE seeks to work with government, regulators and other stakeholders to deliver on the net zero transition.
“It has been a privilege to lead the SSE board for the past five years and I am proud of the progress that’s been made to refocus the business around its core purpose during that time. I look forward to working with Sir John to ensure a smooth transition during the coming months and wish him and the rest of the business every success.”
Alistair Phillips-Davies, chief executive of SSE, said: “On behalf of the board, and SSE as a whole, I’d like to thank Richard for the very substantial contribution he has made to the company over more than a decade, including as chair for the last five years.
“He will leave SSE in April in better shape than when he arrived and with our very best wishes. Meanwhile, we look forward to welcoming Sir John to the board in September and believe the company will benefit greatly from the breadth of his experience and expertise.”