Ovo has announced the appointment of Expedia Group general manager Ben Blake as the new chief executive of Ovo Energy.
Announcing the move today (3 September) the retailer also revealed that Simon Maine will take up the newly created role of director of corporate affairs.
Former army officer Blake is currently senior vice president and general manager at Expedia, leading the Hotels.com brand. He has previous experience as a consultant at McKinsey and as a journalist at CNN.
His new role will also see him become chief executive of the company’s Smart Home brand. He will take up the position in mid-November.
Adrian Letts remains chief executive of Ovo Energy Retail which includes Ovo Energy, SSE Energy Services, Boost, Spark Energy and CORGI HomePlan.
Maine, who joins the company in mid-October from strategic advisory firm Brunswick, will be responsible for public affairs, policy, media relations and sustainability.
As part of the brief he will coordinate corporate communications activity across the whole Ovo Group, including all retail brands, international brands and Kaluza.
Stephen Fitzpatrick, founder and chief executive of Ovo, said: “Both Ben and Simon are world class experts in their field and we’re delighted to welcome them to the team. Over the next ten years as we digitise and decarbonise the energy sector, we have an enormous opportunity to make a global impact for customers and for the environment. Ben and Simon bring a wealth of expertise and will play a critical role in shaping Ovo’s future.”
Blake said: “As the imperative to tackle climate change becomes more acute, it’s an exciting time to be joining the energy sector. Consumers are beginning to engage with the impact of their carbon footprint like never before and brands like Ovo Energy are empowering customers to take more control of their consumption.
“Ovo Energy has built a strong brand equity and credibility which gives it the opportunity to be a leading voice on the path to a decarbonised world.”
Maine said: “The rest of the energy sector has been playing catch-up to Ovo’s fresh thinking ever since it entered the market. I’ve long admired the business for how it combines a great customer brand with a deep-seated purpose to alter the course of climate change.
“Corporate affairs will play a critical role in connecting to the audiences who share these passions and will fuel Ovo’s growth. I am delighted to be joining the team on the next stage in its journey.”