Ofgem announces Brearley’s replacement

Cathryn Scott has replaced incoming Ofgem chief executive Jonathan Brearley in his role as executive director for systems and networks.

Scott joined Ofgem in 2013 as the legal director for E-Serve environmental schemes and the regulator’s offshore transmission tenders regime.

Between 2016 and 2018, she was partner for wholesale markets and legal in the energy systems division, leading on the provision of legal advice and on Ofgem’s oversight of the wholesale energy market, gas systems issues and settlement reform. In April 2018, she was appointed director of wholesale markets and commercial.

Brearley, who was revealed as Dermot Nolan’s replacement in October, will begin his tenure on 1 February next year, the energy regulator announced today (14 November).

Nolan will formally step down on 31 January.

Speaking about his appointment last month, Brearley said: “Since starting work in energy and climate change over a decade ago, I have a deep passion for this sector. I am determined to deliver the best possible energy system for Britain’s consumers.

“Ofgem has a key role to play in protecting consumers and supporting the transition to a net zero economy by 2050, which will see the most dramatic change in energy for generations.

“For Ofgem to do so effectively in a rapidly changing market, it is imperative that we improve our ability to act quickly and robustly to protect consumers.

“Equally, as a father in a mixed race family, I know that we and the industry need a greater diversity of talents and perspectives if we are going to be able to deliver for all the different consumer groups we work for.”

Brearley has led the RIIO2 network price control programme and has been a member of the regulator’s governing board.

Before joining Ofgem, he ran a consultancy company focused on regulatory issues and commercial strategy. This involved work on projects such as the designing of market reforms in India and projects supporting decarbonisation.

As director of electricity markets and networks at the then Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) he led the delivery of the governments’ electricity market reform (EMR) programme. He joined DECC from the Office of Climate Change where he was the director leading the development on the Climate Change Act.