Corporate governance

Sir John brings a wealth of experience in the energy industry and across both the private and public sectors. He held senior executive roles within BP and Talisman Energy before spending six years as Chief Executive of the Civil Service and Permanent Secretary of the Cabinet Office, where he was responsible for the administrative and commercial performance of government departments and oversaw preparations for a no-deal Brexit.

He stepped down from the civil service earlier in the summer, and in April he was appointed non-Executive Director at Diageo, effective 1 October 2020.  He was previously non-Executive Director of SABMiller plc from 2004 to 2015, and Chair of Leyshon Energy Ltd from 2013 to 2014.

Alistair has been with SSE since 1997 and possesses a detailed knowledge of each business area having held a variety of senior roles within the Company. Prior to joining the Board in 2002 as Energy Supply Director, Alistair was Director of Corporate Finance and Business Development. In 2010, he became Generation and Supply Director, before Deputy Chief Executive in 2012, then Chief Executive in 2013.

Alistair’s career progression has supported the development of sound leadership skills and a considered and strategic approach to business deliberations. He has a detailed understanding of the energy markets in Great Britain and Ireland, including the trends and factors which can have a material impact on the operating context, such as the political and regulatory environment. He also holds a broad knowledge of markets across Europe as former Vice President of Eurelectric.

Through regular and proactive engagement, he understands stakeholder views and concerns, and continues to provide focus to people development and efficient operations in order to develop SSE’s capabilities for future growth.

Gregor joined SSE in 1990 and worked in various senior finance roles, and on significant corporate projects including mergers and acquisitions, leading teams including Treasury and Tax, prior to joining the Board as Finance Director in 2002. During his career Gregor has been instrumental in the major transactions and investments which define the SSE Group. His extensive and long-standing knowledge of financial markets and experience of shareholder views, has supported the development of SSE’s financial strategy to create long-term value, including through sustainable debt financing, and the commitment to Fair Tax and the Living Wage.

The Board further benefit from Gregor’s regulatory insight through his role as Chair of the Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution Board and Scotia Gas Networks. His experience of operating within an evolving energy sector, including an understanding of the risks and opportunities which this can present, is highly valued.

Sue has extensive public sector experience from a career which spanned almost 40 years, holding a variety of roles in local government, including the position of Chief Executive at East Dunbartonshire Council, Aberdeen City Council, and latterly the City of Edinburgh Council.

Her strategic and operational experience of leading organisations, with large numbers of employees, significant assets, construction projects and an important place in the community they serve, make her an excellent source of knowledge on these matters for the Board and experienced in stakeholder engagement.

This experience in collating and understanding a diverse range of views are evident in her roles as Remuneration Committee Chair and non-Executive Director for employee engagement. Sue has also held a number of Board and Board Committee positions in organisations across the arts, education and charitable sectors.

Tony possesses highly detailed knowledge of the energy sector gained through a 20-year career with E.ON. He brings wide-ranging and relevant experience to the Board regarding, insight into technical and operational matters, including energy infrastructure and assets, and a comprehensive understanding of commodity markets, energy trading and risk.

Latterly, as CEO and Chair of E.ON UK plc, which comprised E.ON’s main businesses in the UK, Tony oversaw the supply of energy to household customers, businesses and communities, digital transformation programmes and the smart meter roll-out. This long-standing industry experience in combination with his current external appointments, enhances the Board’s knowledge of trends relevant to SSE’s operations and of utilities regulation.

Tony has experience in strategic planning and development through early consultancy roles, and in energy and utility stakeholder management and governance, through his current non-Executive roles.

Martin joined SSE in 1998 as an energy trader, which was followed by a series of commercial roles, before becoming Managing Director, Energy Portfolio Management, and a member of SSE’s then Management Board, in 2012. In 2014, he was appointed Managing Director, Wholesale, and a member of SSE’s Group Executive Committee, taking on responsibility for SSE’s electricity generation portfolio and associated capital investment programme.

Martin has overseen the development of SSE’s diverse and flexible generation portfolio including its growing renewable fleet. Having joined the Board in 2017, as Energy Director, he leads on: SSE’s wholesale businesses; the supply of energy and related services to industrial and commercial customers; and SSE’s operations in Ireland.

He brings significant knowledge of energy markets and experience of commercial, technical and operational matters, with his innovative approach to strategy in seeking opportunities to create future value being a key Board attribute.

Peter has over 30 years’ business experience spanning all areas of finance. As a Fellow of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants and through his current role as Finance Director, BAE Systems plc, he brings recent and relevant financial experience to the Board and strong direction to the Audit Committee.

Within BAE he has previously served as Director, Financial Control, Reporting and Treasury, and his early career involved roles within GEC Marconi, where he was appointed Finance Director of Marconi Electronic Systems prior to the completion of the British Aerospace/Marconi merger.

This background affords international experience, in addition to an understanding of long-term project management and delivery, including investment appraisal and contracting. Peter also brings pensions experience having been Chair of the trustee Board of a major UK scheme.

Helen’s depth of knowledge in relation to the energy sector brings a valuable external perspective to discussions. Through her previous role of Company Secretary and General Counsel at National Grid plc, she has a comprehensive understanding of the legal, compliance, governance and risk considerations relevant to SSE, and of the regulatory environment in which its businesses operate.

As a member of the steering committee of the Parker Review into the Ethnic Diversity of UK Boards, a patron of the charity Social Mobility Business Partnership and an Equality and Human Rights Commissioner, she brings a detailed knowledge of, and interest in, inclusion and diversity and brings a firm cultural focus to the Board.

Helen has held previous directorships with Aga Rangemaster plc, Stagecoach Group plc, SVG Capital plc and was formerly chair of MedicX Fund Limited, and through these cross-sectoral and international roles has experience in investor and stakeholder engagement.

Melanie has over 20 years’ in-depth strategy experience, advising on strategy and transformation to corporate retail and consumer clients worldwide, including international market growth and M&A.

She is currently CEO of Ocado Retail, and has held previous roles as Strategy Director for Marks & Spencer with responsibility for group strategy, M&S Bank and M&S services, Global Strategy and Marketing Director at Bupa, and Chief Operating officer at TalkTalk.

This career experience, in conjunction with insight from her time as partner in McKinsey’s Consumer practice, brings deep commercial and customer experience across multiple goods and services categories, including insurance, telco and energy. Having overseen and led operational teams, she brings further valuable perspectives surrounding people leadership and development.

Dame Elish joined the Board as a non-Executive Director in September 2021.

Elish has a significant legal and policy background and a track record of operating with a strong sense of social purpose, serving in the public sector and academia. Her current positions include Principal of St Hugh's College, Oxford, a post she has held since 2012, and also Pro-Vice Chancellor of Oxford University and Chancellor of the University of the West of Scotland. Prior to this, she served as Lord Advocate of Scotland from 2006 to 2011 - across two government administrations - having previously been Solicitor General for Scotland. Since this time, she has carried out a number of independent public inquiries and reviews for both the UK and Scottish Governments.

Elish is Chair of the Disciplinary Board of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) and a non-Executive Board member of the Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland. She acts as a Patron of several charities and was awarded a Damehood in 2011 for her legal achievements.

Debbie joined the Board as a non-Executive Director in September 2021.

Debbie brings over 25 years of experience in financial service leadership and is currently Chief Executive Officer of TSB. Prior to her appointment at TSB in 2019 she was an Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of Clydesdale Bank, having worked for 22 years at National Australia Bank Group Europe. Through this executive career she brings extensive experience of strategic implementation and customer facing operations. She has also overseen significant corporate transaction work and the execution of far-reaching transformation projects.

Debbie is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, and a member of both the Glasgow Economic Leadership Board and the Strathclyde University Business School Advisory Board.

Debbie was Vice Chair of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) Scotland Council for two years until 2019 and was a Non-Executive Director of the Scottish Court Service for over three years.