“Ofgem is single-mindedly focused on protecting the interests of consumers, reflecting the nature of energy as an essential service.”
Personal notes
What has been the most successful or challenging experience in your career?
I’m particularly proud of the impact I had a few years ago helping to cut the price of phone calls from prisons. This had long been a failing market, with prisoners paying way over the odds.
The Prison Reform Trust drew it to the attention of the National Consumer Council, where I was acting chief executive. I approved an action to refer the market to Ofcom, despite being warned off the issue.
Ofcom’s investigation ultimately led to significant price cuts. Evidence suggests prisoners are less likely to reoffend if they stay in contact with their family.
Identify five people you would invite to your dream dinner party and why?
My great uncle Alex Eadie. A remarkable man who made a difference, Alex was a miner who became a Labour MP and energy minister. He was like me a keen football supporter, so we’d have plenty to discuss if the political chat ran out.
My former Accenture colleague John Glen, now a Conservative MP, but once I was his line manager.
My friend Aileen McHarg, professor of public law at Strathclyde University. We were law students in Edinburgh an awful long time ago and she’s a scarily bright thinker on government and regulation.
Dame Sheila McKechnie – I worked with Sheila when I was at Which?. She was a big personality and a campaigner driven by passion and determination to take on vested interests.
Finally, Lord (Michael) Young of Dartington. I never met him but he was a founder of Which?, the National Consumer Council, and the Open University. I’m assuming that my wife Catherine, who like me has devoted much of her working life to consumer issues, will be there, too.
Name four items you keep on your desk.My mug, which reads “Do what you love, love what you do”. A tiny green plastic statue of the 18th century political theorist and revolutionary Thomas Paine, made out of recycled milk bottle tops. He was based for a time in Lewes, where I now live, and this captures the town’s unique culture perfectly. An old certificate for ten shares in Dunfermline Athletic. A picture of my two young children playing in the waves on a beach in Portugal.
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