Based in Essar Energy's London office, Turpin will also be responsible for media relations for the broader Essar Group in international markets. He will report to Mark Lidiard, director of investor relations and comms, and ex-head of comms at Lloyds.
Turpin was previously head of group media relations at British Gas-owner Centrica, which he joined in 2002 from The Scotsman newspaper, where he was London-based deputy city editor.
Meanwhile, Greg Wood, a correspondent for the BBC's Today programme, will join Centrica in January 2011 as head of corporate media relations. He will report to Mish Tullar, Centrica's director of group media relations.