Scottish Power begins hunt for new comms chief

by Clare O’Connor, PR Week UK 29-Aug-07, 18:18

Scottish Power has followed up its recent takeover by Spanish firm Iberdrola by starting a trawl for a new comms chief.

The Glasgow-based energy company is on the hunt for its first director of corporate comms for two years. It has also underlined its intention to step up comms activity by promoting group media relations manager Simon McMillan to media relations director.

Scottish Power was snapped by Spanish utilities firm Iberdrola in a £12bn deal in April. The acquisition prompted media relations director Colin McSeveny to hand in his notice – he will leave next week. McSeveny spent 12 years at the energy company.

‘When we lost our LSE listing, a large chunk of my City media work went with it, and Iberdrola understood my reason for leaving,’ said McSeveny. Scottish Power’s HR director handled corporate communications prior to the Iberdrola takeover. The newly combined Scottish Power and Iberdrola group is the world’s third largest energy company and the biggest global generator of wind power.