SSE plc and innogy SE have appointed Katie Bickerstaffe as Chief Executive Designate of the new independent British energy supply and services company that they have agreed to form subject to necessary shareholder and regulatory approvals. She is the first appointment to the Board of the new company, following a competitive process that was facilitated by an executive search company. Katie will take up her new appointment later this year and will lead the work being done to prepare for the formation and listing of the new company, 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 existing organisation. She has been an Executive Director of Dixons Carphone plc since it was formed in 2014 and has been Chief Executive, UK and Ireland for the business since 2015, having joined Dixons in 2008 and been a member of its Board since 2012. She has other substantive and diverse retail experience gained with Kwik Save, Somerfield, Dyson, PepsiCo and Unilever.

Katie will step down from her position as a Non-Executive Director of SSE plc with effect from 30 April 2018.