The Board of Directors of Electricity North West Limited is pleased to announce the appointment of Ian Smyth as Chief Executive Officer. Ian will succeed Peter Emery, who announced earlier this month that he wished to step down once a suitable successor had been identified. Ian is expected to join the Electricity North West Limited Board and take up the CEO post later in the year. Peter Emery will remain as CEO until this transition completes.
Ian brings over 25 years of experience working within major UK and international utilities. His experience has spanned electricity, water and gas. Ian is a widely experienced senior executive with a strong operational, commercial and financial track record across his career. He joins from UK Power Networks the UK’s largest electricity distribution network operator. Ian is an Executive Member of UK Power Networks and responsible for UK Power Networks Services the business that delivers critical services to the largest national infrastructure projects and UK organisations including Heathrow, Gatwick and Stanstead airports, High Speed 1, Canary Wharf and London Underground.
Alistair Buchanan, Chairman of Electricity North West, said: “Ian brings an established track record of delivering value and customer service for all stakeholders. The board believes that Ian is a great fit for Electricity North West and is well qualified to lead the business into ED2, its next business plan phase, leading and facilitating the switch of the North West to a low carbon economy in an efficient and cost effective manner.
"Ian will be building on the legacy of Peter Emery and I would also like to thank Peter again for his outstanding contribution to Electricity North West over the past six years. During his tenure, Peter led Electricity North West to become a leading DNO with significant improvements in safety, reliability, customer satisfaction and efficiency. The unique approach to innovation is evidenced in the successful CLASS and Smart Street technologies, and reflected in its ED2 business plan submission, which builds upon the company’s commitment to stakeholder engagement.”
Sion Jones, Chief Operating Officer, Equitix, Electricity North West’s lead shareholder said: “On behalf of the Board, I wish to welcome Ian to the company. With Ian’s leadership the company will continue to strive to improve its performance and provide the best possible service to our customers and stakeholders in the North West and ensure we continue to provide the highest standards of reliability and safety.”
Ian Smyth said: “Electricity North West is a strong business operating in a sector which has a critical role to play for the people and economy of the North West. The rich diversity of Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Cumbria is evidenced in the ambitious plans for their green transition and reflected in their net zero targets. I am looking forward to supporting these stakeholders in achieving their goals and ambitions. Delivering a safe, reliable, efficient service will be our primary focus in these challenging times and will deliver a solid platform which individuals and businesses can rely on.”
