Aggreko appoints new CEO

Temporary power provider Aggreko has appointed Chris Weston as its new CEO – a position he is expected to take up next year.

Mr Weston is currently managing director of international downstream at energy conglomerate Centrica, running the group’s largest division. In this role, he is operationally responsible for both British Gas in the UK and Direct Energy in the US.

Mr Weston joined Centrica in 2001 after a career in the telecoms industry, working for both Cable & Wireless and One.Tel. Before that, Chris served in the UK’s Royal Artillery before earning a BSc in Applied Science, as well as an MBA and PhD from Imperial College London.

Aggreko said he was expected to take the reins next year, once he has completed his commitments at Centrica.

It said Angus Cockburn, Aggreko’s interim CEO, had decided not to apply for the role permanently. The company said that, after 14 years at Aggreko principally as CFO, Mr Cockburn was keen to seek fresh challenges and would step down later in the year.

Meanwhile, Aggreko also appointed Carole Cran, currently interim CFO, as CFO and executive director, joining the Board with immediate effect. Ms Cran joined Aggreko in 2004 and has worked with Angus Cockburn as group financial controller and more recently as director of finance.

Aggreko chairman Ken Hanna said, “I am delighted to welcome Chris to Aggreko on behalf of all the board and the company. Chris brings senior experience of the energy industry and proven leadership skills in a large international business. He has consistently succeeded in driving performance and growth in his career and we believe he has the skills and vision to continue Aggreko’s growth and lead the Group to the next level.

“In addition I would like to thank Angus Cockburn so much for the immense contribution he has made to Aggreko over the last 14 years. We can understand his desire to seek a fresh challenge and wish him every success in his future career. He has an extremely able successor in Carole Cran who has many years of experience with the Group.”