Leadership

Our board

We're overseen by an experienced independent board of industry and trade union experts. They bring knowledge on workplace rights, building UK supply chains, and driving investment in clean energy.

They will set our strategy for how we'll work with the energy sector and local communities. 

They will be responsible for:

  • providing leadership
  • setting strategic direction
  • reviewing the performance of management
  • meeting our obligations to our stakeholders and the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero as shareholders
Juergen Maier CBE, FRS, FREng, ​ Chair ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Juergen was appointed Chair of Great British Energy on 25 July 2024. He is the former Chief Executive of Siemens UK, and prior to that held a number of senior roles in Siemens in the UK and Germany, including industry sector lead for the UK and Ireland and Manufacturing Director of the Drives Factory in Congleton, Cheshire. He has also served as a Non-Executive board member of the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and co-founded the social enterprise vocL.​ ​ Frances O’Grady, Non-Executive ​ Director​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Frances was General Secretary for the TUC between 2013 and 2022, as well as former Deputy General Secretary from 2003. She is a member of the House of Lords and has previously held positions at the Transport and General Workers Union where she worked on successful campaigns to introduce a national minimum wage and equal pay for women. She has also served on the Resolution Foundation's Commission on Living Standards and has been a member of the Low Pay and High Pay Commissions.​ Frank Mitchell, Non-Executive ​ Director​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Frank is the former CEO for SP Energy Networks (2009 to 2022), Chair of Skills Development Scotland and NED of Scottish Rugby Ltd, as well as a member of the Scottish Energy Advisory Board. He has worked internationally in the energy sector for 35 years, including senior roles in the UK, Europe and USA covering generation, transmission and distribution networks, and retail.​ Dr Nina Skorupska CBE FEI, ​ Non-Executive Director​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Dr Skorupska is the former Chief Executive of the Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA). As a chemist by training, with over 40 years’ experience in the energy industry, she has worked in a range of senior executive and board roles at National Power, RWE, Npower and Essent NV. She is a former board member of Transport for London and a supervisory board member of the Dutch engineering and construction company, Royal BAM NV.​ Valerie Todd CBE, ​ Non-Executive Director​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Valerie is an HR professional with extensive experience across the private, public and third sectors. Previously, she was Director of People and Organisation at Siemens plc, and a former Talent and Resources Director at Crossrail and Managing Director at Transport for London. She is also currently a Non-Executive Director at Digital Catapult.​ Beverley Gower-Jones OBE FEI, ​ Non-Executive Director​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Beverley Gower-Jones brings over 35 years of clean energy investment experience, including leadership roles at Shell Ventures and the Clean Growth Fund, and a deep knowledge of technologies like CCS, nuclear fusion, and geothermal.​ Chris Stark, Shareholder ​ Non-Executive Director​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Chris Stark brings extensive climate and energy policy expertise, serving as Chief Executive of the UK Climate Change Committee from April 2018 to April 2024. Chris is currently heading Mission Control in the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero. He brings strategic insight that will help GBE accelerate clean power deployment and infrastructure delivery.​ Emma Floyd, Shareholder ​ Non-Executive Director​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Emma Floyd is an experienced Civil Servant, having held senior roles within DESNZ and its predecessor, BEIS, including Director of Clean Energy Investment and Director of Non-Domestic Energy Affordability. These roles have given her a comprehensive understanding of the UK’s energy policy landscape, investment frameworks, and decarbonisation strategies.​ Graeme Sword, Non-Executive Director​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Graeme Sword has extensive experience of private equity investment in the energy sector with particular knowledge of the global energy supply chain. Graeme was a Group Partner with 3i plc, heading its Oil, Gas & Power team, before co-founding BlueWater LLP an international energy investment manager. Graeme is now an independent investor.​

Our executive committee

Our executive committee will:

  • set our direction as a company
  • allocate resources
  • track performance

We're continuing to recruit for these positions and will announce new committee members when they are appointed.

Dan McGrail, Chief Executive Officer ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Dan McGrail is Chief Executive Officer of Great British Energy, the UK’s publicly owned energy company. He is leading the organisation as it invests in and develops clean energy projects, strengthens UK supply chains, and supports communities to develop and benefit from local clean energy projects. ​ In addition, Dan is a Fellow of the Energy Institute, serves on the Advisory Board of the University of Aberdeen's Interdisciplinary Institute and sits on the leadership coalition of Powerful Women.​ Prior to joining Great British Energy, Dan was Chief Executive of RenewableUK, where he led the organisation through a period of significant growth and championed major industry initiatives, including the Offshore Wind Industrial Growth Plan. ​ Tim Cullen, Director of Business Development and Partnerships​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Responsible for shaping Great British Energy's set-up and all business development activity including building a pipeline of potential investment opportunities and developing key strategic partnerships.​ Alison Presly, General Counsel​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Responsible for advising Great British Energy's board members and overseeing the provision of all legal advice to GBE.​ Rob Gilbert, interim Director of ​ Supply Chain ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Responsible for establishing Great British Energy's supply chain directorate, implementing the funding framework and industry ecosystem needed to drive investment in the UK supply chain.​ ​ Sarah Merrick, Managing Director, ​ Local ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Responsible for leading the team delivering the Local Power Plan, aiming to ensure every community across the UK has the opportunity to be involved in a local energy project.​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

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