British Gas to appoint Chris Weston as new man at the top

Friday, 15 February 2013 11:35

Centrica is planning to appoint Chris Weston as the new managing director of British Gas to take over from Phil Bentley.

Mr Weston, a former Royal Artillery officer who is currently in charge of Centrica’s US retail gas firm Direct Energy, is likely to take over from Mr Bentley shortly. An announcement will be made on February 27th when Centrica presents its annual financial results.

Mr Weston joined Centrica 12 years ago after the firm took over telecoms provider One Tel, where he was a senior executive.

Between 2005 and 2009 he was managing director of British Gas Services which provides boiler repairs and domestic insurance services to British Gas customers and the wider market.

British Gas plans further expansion in North America, so his experience of those markets may have been a factor in his appointment.

Reports suggest that Mr Bentley has had some disagreements with the chief executive of Centrica, Sam Laidlaw who wants to focus on new ways of promoting growth at a time of increased regulation of the wholesale and residential energy markets.

Mr Bentley joined Centrica as finance director in 2000 and moved to his current post in 2007.

A statement from Centrica said: “It is expected that a proposal that Chris Weston will succeed Phil Bentley as the director responsible for British Gas as part of the succession planning and the strategic evolution of the Company will be presented to the board of the Company and, if approved, will be announced with the Company's Preliminary Results on 27 February 2013.”

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