AN interim CEO for Labour’s Great British Energy has been appointed after difficulty in recruitment efforts.
Dan McGrail has been seconded for six months from his position of chief executive at RenewableUK, the trade association for green energy companies.
He will work at GB Energy’s Aberdeen office and will take up his position on an “initial” short-term contract next month, while recruitment for a permanent boss gets under way “shortly”, the UK Government said.
McGrail is a former employee of GB Energy’s chair Juergen Maier (below), who was the CEO of Siemens UK from 1986 to 2019.
McGrail began working for the company in 2004 and rose to be CEO of its engine business based in the Basque Country.
GB Energy had encountered difficulty recruiting for the top job, with one insider telling The Guardian earlier this month that it was “challenging” finding someone right for the role.
McGrail said: “Homegrown, affordable clean power has never been more important and it’s a privilege to take up the role of interim CEO of Great British Energy at such a pivotal moment.
“Together with the talented leadership team, I’m excited to hit the ground running to scale up the company and work with industry to unleash billions of investment in clean energy, helping to grow new industries at scale with job opportunities for hundreds of thousands of people, as well as helping the Government achieve its clean power targets.”
Maier added: “Dan brings invaluable experience from a long career in clean energy and joins Great British Energy at a critical time to help spearhead our work to help make Britain energy independent.
“I look forward to working with him to back innovation, create sustainable jobs and grow our supply chains."
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband (above) said: “With the appointment of Dan McGrail as interim CEO, we now have a fantastic team in place to lead Great British Energy and start delivering on our plan for change.
“Great British Energy is at the heart of our clean power mission, and will support thousands of well-paid jobs, drive growth and investment into our communities and deliver energy security for the British people.
“I look forward to working with Dan as we unlock the benefits of a new era of clean electricity for the British people.”
