International innovation broker, the Energy Innovation Centre (EIC), has announced former E.ON CEO Tony Cocker as its new Chairman.
Tony brings more than 20 years of experience from the energy sector to the role. Last year he retired from E.ON UK as CEO, a position which he had held since September 2011. Before becoming CEO, Tony held a number of management positions within E.ON, including Chairman of the management board of E.ON Energy Trading SE (in Düsseldorf) and Managing Director of the Energy Wholesale and Energy Trading divisions of E.ON UK.
Tony will take up his role on 1 March 2018. He succeeds Mark Horsley, CEO at Northern Gas Networks, who served as the EIC’s Chairman for three years between 2014 and 2017. Under Mark’s tenure the EIC grew significantly, doubling the number of innovation projects they deliver and extending their international reach.
The EIC has been linking its industry partners with innovators to accelerate innovation across the energy sector for ten years. It recently launched an ambitious five year strategic plan that will see the company grow its vibrant innovation community, become a digital business and continue to build on the success of welcoming new partners from outside the energy industry and beyond UK shores.
Denise Massey, Energy Innovation Centre MD, said:
“We are very pleased to welcome Tony Cocker as the EIC’s new Chairman. Tony will bring a wealth of commercial and customer experience gained from leading a major energy supplier which will enable us to deliver sustainable benefits to energy customers and our stakeholders. It’s an exciting time for the EIC – and with Tony on board we are confident that we can fulfil our ambitions and bring about positive change for the energy industry, energy consumers and beyond.”
Tony Cocker said:
“I am privileged to take up the role of EIC Chairman at such an important time for the organisation. I strongly endorse the EIC’s values and have been impressed by the successes achieved through their collaborative innovation model. I look forward to supporting them to drive forward their mission of helping utilities companies to implement cutting-edge innovation in order to ultimately improve the quality of people’s lives.”
Northern Gas Networks Chief Executive Mark Horsley said:
“The EIC provides a unique engagement forum for NGN, as a gas distributor, to source expertise from a diverse group of businesses.
It’s an invaluable partnership that brings industry and innovators together, and one that ultimately benefits the customer as well as business.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time as chairman, seeing the EIC thrive and go from strength to strength thanks to the fantastic team and Denise’s inspirational leadership.
I would like to wish Tony every success in the role and I can’t wait to see what the EIC evolves to next.”