The Board

Career and experience

Sir John has wide-ranging experience across the energy industry and both the private and public sectors. Through an executive career at BP which spanned 24 years, he held a number of senior roles including Chief Executive, Refining and Marketing in which he was a Main Board member. This was followed by President and Chief Executive Officer at Talisman Energy Inc before a move to UK Government where he spent six years as Chief Executive of the Civil Service and Permanent Secretary of the Cabinet Office. He has previously been a non-Executive Director of SABMiller plc and Chair of Leyshon Energy Limited.

Skills and attributes which support strategy and long-term success

• Dynamic and engaging leadership style with diverse perspectives gained across multiple sectors, organisational settings and geographies, which complement the responsibilities of SSE Chair.
• Experienced in the governance of large-scale business operations, leading reform and the management of complex projects to drive commercial performance, skills key to the fulfilment of SSE’s vision and purpose.
• Strong communicator with insight into the management and development of stakeholder relations aligned with SSE’s approach to decision-making.
• Working knowledge of energy regulation, government and policy considerations which underpin the success of a net zero transition.
• Brings sharp focus to people leadership, succession planning and inclusion and diversity.

Skills and experience

Tony possesses highly detailed knowledge of the energy sector through a 20-year career with E.ON SE and Powergen plc, with at different times, responsibility for thermal generation, onshore and offshore wind (including Scroby Sands and the London Array, which was the world’s largest offshore wind farm when built), commodity trading and risk management and retail. Latterly, he held the position of CEO and Chair of E.ON UK plc, comprising the Company’s main businesses in the UK. Previous roles include CEO of E.ON Energy Trading SE, which managed E.ON SE’s commodity portfolio across Europe, and Managing Director of E.ON UK Energy Wholesale, which comprised E.ON UK’s renewable, generation, and trading businesses. He has served on the Board of Energy UK.

Skills and attributes which support strategy and long-term success

• Wide-ranging insight regarding technical and operational matters, including energy infrastructure and assets, commodity markets, energy trading and risk.
• Experience delivering major renewable energy projects.
• Combined energy industry and non-Executive experience enhances Board understanding of trends relevant to SSE’s operations and of utilities regulation.
• A balanced sounding board with additive experience in strategic consultancy and energy and utility stakeholder management.

Career and experience

Alistair joined SSE in 1997 and possesses extensive knowledge of the Group, having held senior roles across multiple business areas. 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 his appointment as Deputy Chief Executive in 2012 then Chief Executive in 2013. Alistair is a fellow of the Energy Institute and a Chartered Accountant.

Skills and attributes which support strategy and long-term success

• Sound executive leadership and a considered approach to strategy; evidenced through continued delivery under the Group operating model, Net Zero Acceleration Programme, and sustainability plans and targets.
• Broad knowledge of the energy markets in Great Britain and Ireland and across Europe, which informs views of long-term direction.
• Proactive approach to understanding stakeholder priorities including the impact of the energy crisis, SSE’s societal response to net zero and the pace, focus and investment needed to deliver a clean, secure and cost-effective energy system.
• Detailed understanding of policy, politics, and regulation, enabling constructive engagement in these areas.
• Focused on people development to support culture and capabilities for future growth.

Career and experience

Barry joined SSE in 2008 and became Chief Financial Officer on the Board in December 2023. Prior to becoming Chief Financial Officer, Barry was Finance Director for SSE Renewables as well as having responsibility for corporate finance across the whole of the SSE Group. In his previous role of Director of Treasury and Corporate Finance he oversaw group funding and treasury operations. He is a chartered accountant who trained with PWC in Dublin before joining Airtricity in 2005.

Skills and attributes which support strategy and long-term success

• Financial expert with 19 years energy value chain knowledge gained from a career in the sector, which together will provide strong support to the execution of SSE’s Net Zero Acceleration Programme Plus.
• Deep involvement in the development of financial strategy, which has been integral to the reshaping of SSE over the last decade; underpinned by investment in large capital projects and the execution of many acquisitions, divestments and SSE’s international expansion.
• Extensive experience in leading corporate financial projects and teams, covering SSE corporate modelling, funding strategy, debt issuance coupled with active understanding of the views of the investment community, having led SSE’s relationship with the credit rating agencies for a number of years.
• Practical understanding of SSE’s approach to partnering having served on joint venture boards within the SSE Renewables business.

Career and experience

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. In 2017 he joined the Board as Group Energy Director, a role which was expanded to Group Energy and Commercial Director in November 2020. This role was re-titled Chief Commercial Officer in March 2022.

Skills and attributes which support strategy and long-term success

• Literacy in complex energy and commodity markets which is supported by technical and operational expertise.
• End-to-end experience in large capital projects including joint venture engagement and governance, which has been applied in the development of SSE’s diverse and flexible generation portfolio, including the renewables pipeline.
• Commercially minded in seeking future growth within SSE’s market-based businesses, including internationally, having supported key capital recycling opportunities and transactions to refine SSE’s business mix and secure optimum value from investments.
• Understanding of change management and sources of commercial risk, having overseen SSE’s monitoring and response to recent market volatility.

Career and experience

Lady Elish has an extensive public sector legal career, serving as Lord Advocate of Scotland from 2006 to 2011, across two government administrations, having previously been Solicitor General for Scotland. Since then, she has carried out independent public inquiries and reviews for the UK and Scottish Governments and held positions in academia, serving as Principal of St Hugh’s College Oxford since 2012. She is also a Pro-Vice Chancellor of Oxford University and previous Chancellor of the University of West of Scotland. She is Chair of the Board of Trustees for the legal action non-governmental group Reprieve and a patron of several charities.

Skills and attributes which support strategy and long-term success

• Possesses significant understanding of Scottish governance and has practical experience of working with the UK and Scottish governments through involvement in independent public reviews, whilst maintaining no political affiliation.
• Strong ambassadorial skills developed through an international stakeholder network in judicial, governmental, diplomatic, and academic fields.
• Exercises a strong sense of social purpose and adds depth of perspective to Board considerations, including as an advocate for employee views in the Boardroom; reinforcing SSE’s approach to wider value creation.

Career and experience

John brings significant listed company and recent and relevant financial and international experience through a career in global businesses. He joined Associated British Foods plc (ABF) as Finance Director in 1999 and held this position until stepping down in April 2023. Whilst in post, ABF’s diverse food, ingredients and retail businesses employed 128,000 people and operated in 53 countries across Europe, Asia, the Americas, Australia and Africa. Prior to this, John was Finance Director of the international distribution and services group Bunzl plc. Non-Executive experience includes Senior Independent Director and Audit Committee Chair of Compass Group PLC. John is a Chartered Accountant.

Skills and attributes which support strategy and long-term success

• Extensive leadership experience and international perspective, gained from global companies and complex operations, which will be invaluable to SSE’s growth and entry into new markets.
• A proven track record in developing financial and commercial strategy, including M&A, corporate transactions and large capital projects, which complements SSE’s Net Zero Acceleration Programme Plus, and supports appointment to the role of Audit Committee Chair from 21 July 2023.
• Understanding of the listed company context with practical experience of investor relations and ESG strategy, placing upmost importance on the role of sustainability.

Letters of appointment

Letter of appointment - June 2022

Career and experience

Debbie brings over 25 years of experience in financial services leadership and became the first female Chief Executive of Nationwide Building Society in 2022. Prior to this appointment, Debbie served as CEO of TSB from May 2019 and was previously an Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of Clydesdale Bank, where she led preparations for its successful demerger from National Australia Bank and subsequent IPO. Debbie is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers and a member of the Glasgow Economic Leadership Board and the Strathclyde University Business School Advisory Board.

Skills and attributes which support strategy and long-term success

• Extensive experience of the implementation of strategy, including execution of far-reaching transformation projects within large consumer-facing organisation, and the critical role of digital and data.
• Understanding of capital allocation, optimisation, and investment appraisal frameworks central to SSE’s growth plans.
• Responsible for efficient and effective operations in high profile organisations in a heavily regulated sector, requiring a compliance-driven approach and proficiency in IT and cyber security, risk management and internal controls.
• Business leader with expert understanding of the wider organisational responsibilities to employees and society.

Career and experience

Helen is a former Company Secretary and General Counsel of National Grid plc. She is an experienced non-Executive Director with previous directorships at Bonheur ASA, Aga Rangemaster plc, Stagecoach Group plc, SVG Capital plc, Chair of MedicX Fund Limited, Deputy Chair and Senior Independent Director of Primary Health Properties PLC, and Chair of The Renewables Infrastructure Group Limited. She was a member of the Parker Review steering committee into the Ethnic Diversity of UK Boards. She is a patron of the Social Mobility Business Partnership, Co-chair of the Employers Social Mobility Alliance and Chair of the Global Media Campaign to end FGM.

Skills and attributes which support strategy and long-term success

• Long-standing energy and regulatory expertise, including understanding of the legal, compliance, governance and risk frameworks in which SSE’s businesses operate and a decade of experience overseeing renewables infrastructure investment.
• Insight into a broad range of investor and stakeholder perspectives and trends from cross-sectoral, international and external Board interests that enable wider discussion and debate.
• Advocate of a strong safety and employee wellbeing culture, extensive knowledge of sustainability, and applies a wide focus to social equity including social mobility and inclusion and diversity.

Career and experience

Melanie has over 20 years of strategy and transformation experience. Most recently, she built the Ocado Retail joint venture – the world’s largest pureplay online grocer and the UK’s fastest growing grocer, of which she was CEO until 2022. Prior to this she was Strategy Director for Marks & Spencer with responsibility for group strategy, M&S Bank and M&S Services. Earlier roles include Global Strategy and Marketing Director at Bupa, Chief Operating Officer at TalkTalk and a Partner in McKinsey’s Consumer practice.

Skills and attributes which support strategy and long-term success

• Highly qualified to appraise strategy development and execution, having advised and led growth, brand and business transformation in the consumer and retail sectors worldwide.
• Deep commercial and digital experience across multiple goods and services categories, including insurance, telco and energy that furthers Board understanding of the customer.
• Has a people centric style and wide-ranging experience in a global context including a strong cultural appreciation.
• An entrepreneurial organisational leader, actively engaging with stakeholder views to create high performing organisations.

Career and experience

Dame Angela brings depth of executive experience from a long-standing international career in the energy sector, which included 38 years’ service at BP. Prior to retirement in December 2020, she was a member of BP’s Executive Management team as BP Group Chief Scientist and Head of Downstream Technology. This followed international business and technical leadership positions spanning R&D, engineering, digital, product development and innovation, business development, finance and renewable energy. Angela is a Fellow of the Royal Society, the Royal Academy of Engineers, and the UK Energy Institute. She was awarded a DBE for
long-standing services to the energy industry and pioneering STEM careers, especially for women.

Skills and attributes which support strategy and long-term success

• Expert understanding of the current and future role of technology and science within the broader energy and manufacturing industries, including the impact of disruptive trends and resultant transformation.
• Knowledge of leading and collaborating on a large scale and with international outlook, having worked extensively in culturally diverse environments including the Middle East, Europe, the Far East, Africa and America.
• Corporate social responsibility and sustainability experience through active involvement in climate science research, the energy transition, reputation and safety management, pioneering women in STEM careers, and as a champion of inclusion and diversity; having chaired the Corporate Sustainability Committee, and Safety, Ethics and Sustainability Committee in two FTSE 100 companies.

Maarten brings over 27 years’ experience in the energy sector and is currently Chief Executive of CEPSA (Compania Espanola de Petroleos, S.A), the Spanish multinational oil, gas, and diversified energy company. Prior to his current role, Maarten spent over 26 years at Shell, where he held positions within finance, strategy, and operations and was key to establishing the company’s renewables activities. The last six years of Maarten’s time at Shell was spent as a member of the Executive Committee in charge of the Integrated Gas and New Energies business.

Skills and attributes which support strategy and long-term success

• Wide-ranging and international experience in the energy industry, having lived and worked in South America, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. This is further complemented by his position as Chief Executive of CESPA whose current operations are spread throughout numerous jurisdictions.
• Energy transition leadership from a career in the sector, supported by experience in developing renewable, low-carbon, and green hydrogen capital projects globally as well as communicating and engaging in energy transition strategy.
• Extensive experience in commodity markets, particularly relating to liquified natural gas and gas-to-liquid positions.
• Working knowledge of the listed company context including capital markets and investor relations experience from previous finance roles.

Letters of appointment

Letter of appointment - March 2023