Powergen's newly appointed PR head is to launch a search for a
group head of internal communications as the company prepares to be
taken over by German utility Eon.
Gareth Wynn, confirmed as director of corporate affairs last week after
acting in the role for the past year, said recruiting for this senior
internal communications role was a priority.
The role was made vacant in July with the departure of Christine Davis,
who left to join insurance broker Marsh Europe as its European internal
communications manager.
Wynn said: 'A lot of work is going to be needed to communicate with
staff as we prepare for the change in ownership next year.
'Now that I have been appointed to my role permanently we can start the
process of recruitment immediately.'
Internal communications has been headed directly by Wynn since July.
Wynn, previously head of media relations at Powergen, took over the top
PR role from Esther Kaposi who took leave for medical reasons.
His permanent appointment to the role comes as Kaposi decided not to
return to Powergen.
The planned takeover next April means that Powergen will become a
subsidiary of Eon and continue to run UK and American energy
operations.
Wynn added: 'This won't affect the work we do but it will be a
significant change no longer being a plc.'
Powergen this month raised £810m in the international debt markets
to help pay for the cost of its takeover last year of US company LG&E
Energy.
It is also selling most of its independent power plant interests in
Asia, Australia and Europe to meet this cost.
Earlier this year agency Lexis won the consumer PR gong at the IPR
Excellence Awards (PRWeek, 22 June) for its Snug as a Bug campaign on
behalf of Powergen.
