- Great British Energy chair Juergen Maier has announced he will step down in October, triggering a search for a new chair with an annual salary of £114,400.
- Maier, former chief executive of Siemens UK, was appointed chair in July 2024 to oversee the establishment of the state‑backed company. He oversaw plans to base its headquarters in Aberdeen and invest in rooftop solar for public buildings.
- The job listing seeks a chair to “lead a values‑driven Board” and to champion reshaping public ownership for the modern world. The successful candidate will work two days per week with a term starting autumn 2026.
Great British Energy (GBE), the publicly owned developer created by the Labour government to drive the energy transition, is seeking a new chair after Juergen Maier announced he will leave the role later this year.
Maier, who previously led Siemens UK, was appointed in July 2024 as GBE’s inaugural chair with a mandate to set up the company and deliver its early projects. In a social media post, he said his departure was planned and that GBE had reached a level of organisational maturity that allows him to hand over the reins.
During his tenure, GBE selected Aberdeen as its headquarters and began work on outfitting office space in Marischal Square. The company also announced its first investments in rooftop solar installations across public buildings in England, signalling an early focus on decentralised clean power.
Energy minister Michael Shanks praised Maier’s “enthusiasm and patience” during the start‑up phase and said his efforts have “made a huge contribution to a new way of thinking about energy in Britain”.
Values‑driven appointment
GBE’s job advert specifies that the new chair must not only fulfill traditional governance duties but also “champion reshaping public ownership for the modern world”. The role involves two days of work per week, with remuneration of £114,400, and is slated to begin in autumn 2026 after the company’s initial setup is complete.
Maier’s successor will join chief executive Dan McGrail, appointed permanently earlier this year, in steering GBE’s expansion into large‑scale clean‑energy projects.
The leadership transition comes as GBE prepares to deploy billions of pounds into wind, solar and storage projects. The search underscores the government’s intention to embed public ownership within the energy system while maintaining private sector efficiency.
The incoming chair will need to balance political expectations with commercial realities, ensuring GBE can crowd in private investment while delivering on climate objectives. Observers will watch whether the position attracts candidates from industry, finance or the public sector, and how the board reshapes governance as the company moves from start‑up to operational phase.
