Eon Climate & Renewables boss Michael Lewis will replace Tony Cocker at the helm of the energy company’s UK business from 10 April.
Cocker, who took charge of Eon UK in 2011 following three years at the head of its energy trading arm in Dusseldorf, will leave the firm in July. He joined what was then Powergen in 1997 as head of corporate strategy. He has a doctorate from Lincoln College, Oxford, for which he researched the shape of water droplets, which may or may not have helped his early career at the Bass brewery.
Lewis, an expert in engineering, carbon and finance, has been with the firm for almost 25 years, playing a key role in growing its renewables business.
Eon group CEO Johannes Teyssen thanked Cocker for his “outstanding contribution, not only to our UK business but also to our company as a whole. During his time leading our UK business, Tony helped make customer focus part of our DNA. The Management Board wishes Tony and his family all the best for the future”.
Cocker said it was time to take on new challenges and stated he will now pursue “a portfolio career”.
“I am personally delighted that Michael is to succeed me,” said Cocker. “I will, of course, miss my colleagues, as from the very first day I have witnessed firsthand the pride, determination and dedication our team put in to helping customers and striving to improve and innovate.”
Karsten Wildberger, E.ON board member, said Lewis’s “wealth of experience will help to continue to accelerate our company’s transformation in the UK.”
For his part, Lewis said it was a “fascinating time” to take on the challenge that utilities now face.
Eon restructured its generation business at the start of 2016, splitting off fossil assets into Uniper, with Eon focusing on cleaner technologies.
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