The National Grid has lost its corporate affairs director Margaret
Stewart after just over one year in the position.
Stewart offered her resignation at the end of October which National
Grid chief executive David Jones said he has accepted ’with
reluctance’.
It is understood that Stewart’s departure was caused by differences with
Jones over the future communications strategy within the company.
Both Stewart and National Grid declined to go into further details
behind the reasons for her abrupt departure.
Stewart said: ’It was my decision and at my instigation ... it was an
amicable parting with no aggression.’ Stewart did not have another job
to go to.
She was responsible for all parts of the 24-strong corporate affairs
department which covered three areas: government relations, PR and
environment.
She reported directly to Jones and took a place on the group executive
committee, a strategic policy group within the company, and had dotted
line responsibility for a US team of five.
Stewart was drafted in to the National Grid from her corporate affairs
job at Yorkshire Water in August 1998. Since her appointment National
Grid’s profile has grown significantly both nationally and
internationally with the acquisition of companies in US and Brazil and a
listing on the US Nasdaq exchange.
In the wake of her departure Jones has put a temporary communications
structure in place until he finds a replacement. The head of the
four-strong government relations team Judith Ward will report to Jones
and general manager of engineering and technology, John Scott, will take
charge of the environmental issues team of four, also reporting to
Jones.
National Grid retains Fishburn Hedges for corporate PR and Citigate Dewe
Rogerson for its financial PR.
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