Dixons Carphone UK boss Katie Bickerstaffe steps down to lead SSE and Innogy’s new British energy supply business
Katie Bickerstaffe has stepped down as the chief executive of Dixons Carphone UK and Ireland today to take up a new role as the boss of the energy supplier to be created by the proposed merger of SSE’s retail unit and German-owned Npower.
Bickerstaffe, who has been an executive director at Dixons Carphone since it was formed in 2014, has also held positions at Kwik Save, Somerfield, Dyson, PepsiCo and Unilever.
The deal between SSE, Britain’s second-largest energy supplier, and Germany’s Innogy to create an independent retail energy business was first announced in November, and it is currently under investigation by the competitions watchdog. The merger will also need to be approved by shareholders.
Bickerstaffe is the first appointment to the new company’s board as chief executive designate, and she will take up her new appointment later this year to lead the preparation of the formation and listing of the new company, which is expected to take place in the last quarter of 2018 or the first quarter of 2019.
Her role during that period will not include any involvement in the leadership or management of either SSE or Innogy, the companies said, and she will step down from her position as non-executive director of SSE from the end of this month.
The UK’s largest energy suppliers have come under intense criticism over customer service failings in recent years. Alistair Phillips-Davies, the chief executive of SSE, said Bickerstaffe will bring a “strong customer focus and enormous capacity to unlock the great potential that exists in combining the experience and insight of two established players with the focus and agility of a new, independent company”.
Innogy’s chief operating officer for retail, Martin Hermann, added:
[Bickerstaffe] knows how to lead a truly customer-focused company that satisfies customers, employees and shareholders. These are the most vital elements needed to make a long-term success of the new company we plan to set up.
Hermann said preparations for the new business are “right on schedule”.
Bickerstaffe said she was excited to lead the new business “at a time when the sector is undergoing an exciting transformation”.
The government is currently working to push a bill to give the energy regulator new power to cap energy prices through parliament.
“There is a great opportunity to create a more agile, innovative and efficient company that really delivers for customers,” Bickerstaffe said.
“Over the coming months, I want to listen to as many customers, employees and other stakeholders as possible to make sure this new company has the values, strategy and focus that customers need now and in the future. As we plan the new company, every decision we make must be about doing the right thing for all our stakeholders.”
Read more: The competitions watchdog has launched a probe of the SSE-Npower merger