Jersey Electricity has appointed a new Operations Director in charge of its Energy Division. Mark Preece, a former Electricity Operations Director for United Utilities supplying 2.3 million customers in the North West of England, takes over responsibility for the Island’s electricity supply from David Padfield who retires in September after 30 years’ service.
Mark Preece takes over as Operations Director at Jersey Electricity
Jersey Electricity has appointed a new Operations Director in charge of its Energy Division. Mark Preece, a former Electricity Operations Director for United Utilities supplying 2.3 million customers in the North West of England, takes over responsibility for the Island’s electricity supply from David Padfield who retires in September after 30 years’ service.
Mr Preece has 29 years’ experience in the utility sector in both the UK and Middle East. He joins JE having completed a contract as Director of Electricity Networks for the Regulation and Supervision Bureau (RSB) in Abu Dhabi, which regulates the water; wastewater and electricity industries in the Emirate. The electricity networks there supply a peak demand of around14GW to around 500,000 customers.
Prior to joining the RSB, the 51-year-old Chartered Electrical Engineer spent 24 years with United Utilities performing a range of senior roles including, Managing Director of United Utilities Middle East, Director of Business Change and Electricity Operations Director.
Of his new role in Jersey Mr Preece said: ‘I have predominately been involved in electricity distribution networks, albeit with much larger networks and many more customers and staff. What appeals about Jersey Electricity is that it is what we call a fully integrated vertical utility. There’s the business of the importation of power through the cables from France, the generation side at La Collette, as well as the distribution network infrastructure. The diversity of the Company and this role is therefore much broader than previous roles I have held, and in that sense it’s a bigger and more exciting job.
‘I’ve already been very impressed with the commitment, abilities and technical skills of the whole team and I’ve been made to feel very welcome. In fact, my wife Karen and I have been made welcome across the Island when we’ve been out and about. We have found people are friendly and very happy to help, and that’s not forgetting that it’s such a beautiful place to live.’
JE CEO Chris Ambler said: ‘We are delighted to welcome someone with such vast experience as Mark. This is a huge role to fill for the Company and the Island as whole and I’m sure Mark will continue to build on David’s work that has contributed so much to providing Jersey with the reliable and robust electricity supply we enjoy today.’
