Meet our leadership team

Ian joined Electricity North West in 2022 as group CEO.

Prior to Electricity North West Limited Ian was a director of UK Power Networks leading their commercial division. Ian has also served as managing director of Europe, Middle East and Asia for Navigant a global advisory and dispute resolution consultancy. He was the lead partner of the Energy, Utilities and Regulated Industries practice for LCP a European risk and investment consultancy. Ian was a consultant for Ernst & Young. He has worked internationally for governments, regulators and utilities across electricity, gas and water.

Ian has a BA(Hons) in philosophy, psychology, statistics and artificial intelligence from Manchester Metropolitan University and an MSc in Cognitive Science from the University of Birmingham.

Stephanie joined Electricity North West in 2008 and has more than 20 years’ experience in customer roles within the utilities industry.

Stephanie ensures that customers are at the heart of the business by bringing to the life the customer voice, driving the continuous improvement of our customer’s experience.

In her time with the business, Stephanie and the team have claimed several customer awards, Stephanie also leads the team in delivering an inclusive approach that supports our customers when the circumstances create a vulnerability and need for some extra care.

Paul leads our external engagement and understanding of stakeholder requirements and expectations.

Paul has over 25 years of experience driving change and creating innovative new business models within the energy, utilities and infrastructure industries.  Working with government and national regulators, regional political leaders, county and district council leaders and a wide range of national and regional stakeholders he informs the business of emerging and new expectations.

He is uniquely placed to assess the rapidly changing requirements of our customers and stakeholders and develop the strategies and responses we need to solve the challenges of leading the North West to net zero.

Chris is responsible for our overall financial management, including the company’s financial planning and reporting.

Chris joined the business in 2023 having previously been CFO of Yorkshire Water, a role he held from June 2020. He has also previously held the roles of finance director of both Northumbrian Water Group and Northern Gas Networks, and before that worked in the regulated financial services industry.

Chris' focus is the core finance, financing and legal requirements of the Group to support the challenges of the latest price control period.

Rachael joined Electricity North West in 2016 and has extensive experience of working in HR roles across a number of sectors including oil, gas and financial services. 

Rachael is responsible for our HR teams as well as training, accommodation and communications. In 2020, Rachael led Electricity North West to become one of the first members of Greater Manchester Combined Authority's Good Employment Charter.

A member of the Energy Networks Association’s Diversity and Inclusion committee, Rachael ensures that this is a significant area of focus on Electricity North West’s people agenda as we aim to attract, develop and retain the best people to help us deliver our £1.7bn business plan.

Clive is an experienced Chartered Engineer whose career has been spent working in utilities including the last 22 years at Electricity North West.

Clive led the combination of all the electricity operational teams into one directorate in 2019 which is helping drive consistency and clarity of purpose.

Clive’s focus is to ensure that power flows throughout the North West whilst also strengthening and enhancing the network the meet future demand.  

Ben joined the business in July 2023 and leads our asset and technology and strategy and growth directorates focusing on developing our operational investment and technology.

He boasts a wealth of both UK and global utilities experience having worked at the consultancy Guidehouse where he was partner and the international energy sector lead.

As he joins the business, Ben will play a critical role in leading our £2bn electricity network investment programme over the next five years until 2028.

He will also lead the growth of Electricity North West’s commercial private network business, Electricity North West Construction and Maintenance.