Julie Minns, who UKPN have appointed in the role, will oversee external communications, stakeholder engagement and sustainability.
Minns joins the company from leading communications consultancy Bell Pottinger where she was partner. She previously managed public affairs, corporate responsibility and consumer regulation for over a decade at mobile network operator Three.
She also has a background in the voluntary sector and spent four years as a local authority councillor, giving her a “wealth of understanding and experience of stakeholder engagement and consumer issues at a local and national level.”
UKPN’s director of customer service Matt Rudling said: “I am delighted to welcome Julie to the team.
“Her appointment will strengthen our engagement with stakeholders and ensure we continue to draw on their feedback to deliver the best, most cost-effective electricity supply to 8.1 million homes and businesses.”
UKPN rose to second from fifth last year in Ofgem’s annual stakeholder engagement rankings.
Minns said: “Now more than ever it’s crucial that networks engage actively with customers, influencers and decision makers, and I’m looking forward to getting out into communities across the South and East and London to hear from customers and stakeholders first hand.”