British Gas pipelines business TransCo International this week gained a
new head of public policy and lost a managing director.
Ian Priestner joins the company as head of public policy, government
relations and regulation early next month. His appointment was confirmed
on the same day the company revealed that its MD Harry Moulson had
resigned due to ill health.
Moulson’s departure is, however, not expected to affect Priestner’s job,
which reports to John Wybrew, British Gas executive director with
responsibility for corporate communications.
With a staff of two, Priestner will take charge of TransCo’s relations
with government, corporate partners and regulators in the UK and abroad.
He joins from Laura Sandys Associates where he has been a senior
consultant since January. Prior to that he was head of external affairs
at the Engineering Employers Federation for two-and-a-half years.
His appointment to TransCo was prompted by British Gas’ proposed
demerger early next year. Subject to shareholder approval in February,
TransCo will manage the pipeline business while British Gas Energy will
take over gas trading and supply.
TransCo’s government affairs post fell vacant because Patrick Law, head
of parliamentary affairs at British Gas joined British Gas Energy.
Wybrew said that all communications posts at TransCo had now been
filled.