In our latest appointments roundup, Severn Trent has revealed Shell Energy Retail’s chief operating officer is to join as the water company’s new customer retail and technology director. Elsewhere, the trade body Renewable UK has announced the results of its latest annual board election while contractor Stonbury has appointed its new chief executive.
Severn Trent
The water company has appointed Judith Burditt as its new director for customer retail and technology, replacing current director Andy Smith who is due to retire later this year.
Burditt will join from Shell Energy Retail where she is currently chief operating officer. She has previously worked in senior roles at First Utility, EE and Orange, within both customer operations, and technology.
Severn Trent chief executive Liv Garfield said Smith had been a “pivotal” part of the company for many years and described him as a “fantastic, insightful leader” who has been instrumental in finding and developing new talent.
She added: ‘’We are very much looking forward to welcoming Jude who will bring with her a wealth of experience. After a comprehensive search and meeting some incredible candidates, Jude really stood out.
“Her experience within customer and operations, IT design and delivery, and roles in the energy and utility sector along with a shared passion for our sustainability agenda, values and social purpose, means she’s the perfect fit for us. I know that she will play a fundamental role in delivering for our communities and customers, that will truly help to transform the way we operate as a business.”
Burditt said: “It’s such an exciting time to be joining Severn Trent, and I’m thrilled to be joining a business where being socially purposeful is at the core of what they do.
“They’re a company that cares about its customers, communities and environments, and that’s why this is a great match. I’m really looking forward to coming on board in Autumn, and supporting the business to deliver on some really ambitious, and hugely beneficial commitments.”
Renewable UK
Trade body Renewable UK has announced the appointments of two new directors following its latest board election.
The new members will begin their roles in September and include:
- Alice Barrs, head of UK policy and public affairs at RWE
Barrs joined RWE in 2015 and before that she spent a decade working as an economist for the government and the Climate Change Committee, specialising in energy and the power sector.
She said: “I’m delighted to be joining the board of Renewable UK. The association has been crucial in putting renewables at the forefront of the UK’s journey to net zero. As a board member I will strive grow our industry to its full potential, via increased deployment, jobs and supply chain investment.”
- Mary Thorogood, director, public affairs at Vestas
Thorogood has worked in the UK renewables industry for the last 10 years. She joined wind turbine manufacturers Vestas from offshore wind developers Vattenfall where she led UK government and stakeholder relations.
She is a member of the Offshore Wind Industry Council and co-workstream lead of its Supply Chain and Clusters Working Group, as well as a director of the Aldersgate Group.
Thorogood said: “It’s a real honour to be elected to the Renewable UK board, particularly in the context of such an esteemed and talented field of candidates – a great sign of how strong our industry is.”
Elsewhere, Paul Cooley, director of capital projects at SSE Renewables, has been re-elected to the board.
At SSE Renewables Cooley is responsible for the growth of the company’s renewable portfolio including onshore and offshore wind, hydro, solar and storage projects.
Prior to joining the sector, he held senior positions within the chemicals and manufacturing industry in the UK, Ireland and overseas, including roles at DuPont, Koch Industries and the Quinn Group.
Cooley said: “I’m really delighted to be re-elected on to the board of Renewable UK and I will continue to support the critical work that the organisation is doing in enabling policy which supports both near term decarbonisation targets and ultimately net zero.
“We have a great team and under Dan McGrail’s leadership, I’m sure they will go from strength to strength. In the run up to Global Offshore Wind and COP26, the UK will once again be centre stage and Renewable UK is well placed to be a key voice of the renewables industry in front of a world stage.”
Renewable UK Chair Stephen Bull said: “The calibre of all those who took part in this election was exceptionally high and I’m delighted that the three successful candidates will bring a wealth of expertise to the next phase of our work.
“2021 is a crucial year for our sector with the UK hosting the biggest international climate change summit for years, and the government determined to build back better after the pandemic with the renewable energy industry in the vanguard.”
Stonbury
Water sector contractors Stonbury has appointed Trevor Hoyle as its new chief executive.
Hoyle has previously had a 14-year career at RPS Group where he rose to chief executive, Europe, Middle East and Africa and was most recently managing director of utilities at M Group Services (including Morrison Utility Services). 
Hoyle said: “It is wonderful to be joining a business with sustainability so clearly at its heart. I look forward to working with the Stonbury team to deliver outstanding service to our clients and to making the most positive contribution to our environment, our society and our economy.”
Hoyle’s appointment is part of a restructure of the company board which will see the former chief executive James Stonor move into the role of chairman.
Stonor said: “Trevor’s appointment, and the restructure, really is a statement of intent from us that we want to continue to push the company forward. The Stonbury story has been an exciting one and we want that to continue into the next phase.
“Trevor completes the skill sets and experience we need to move forward even stronger than before and I cannot wait to see what the next few years bring.”
Meanwhile Ian Mellor, former group managing director, will take up the new role of chief operating officer while Jon Featherstone, national delivery director, is to retire after 25 years’ service.
Smart Energy GB
Elsewhere in the sector Smart Energy GB’s (SEGB) director of communications, Robert Cheesewright, has announced he is stepping down after four years.
Cheesewright will join the soon to be launched climate tech company Pinwheel as its chief sustainability officer.
Speaking of his new appointment, Cheesewright said: “I am so proud of the creativity and tenacity of the SEGB team. They’ve brought a vital, yet potentially not engaging, energy infrastructure project to life in ways few had imagined possible.
“They’re genuinely the best bunch of people I’ve had the privilege to work with. I am also hugely grateful to agency colleagues and collaborators within the broader rollout for their help and supreme efforts over the years.
“At Pinwheel I’ll be working with the world’s most effective planet-saving projects, bringing them to new audiences, scaling their impact, and continuing the behaviour change mission to empower us all to live a more sustainable life. I can’t wait to get started!”