Keith Anderson steps up at ScottishPower

SCOTTISHPOWER'S lengthy search for a replacement for former chief executive Nick Horler ended yesterday when it named internal candidate Keith Anderson in a newly created role with a wider UK remit.

Anderson, who will continue in his current post as chief executive of ScottishPower's renewables business, has been given the unusual title of "chief corporate officer", which will see him also take on responsibilities for Spanish owner Iberdrola's other UK interests, including its nuclear power joint venture.

Although the company wouldn't be drawn on whether his salary would be comparable to the 802,000 figure Horler commanded before he unexpectedly resigned for personal reasons last October, it stressed that the Glasgow-based role Anderson had been given was a "more important and broader" one than previously existed.

The group said he will "drive and champion" Iberdrola in the UK including the delivery of its 15 billion investment programme and represent it in dealings with government, regulatory bodies and the media.

Although Anderson will have overall responsibility for ScottishPower, it is thought the executives managing its two arms - energy retailing and trading and regulated networks - will be given more senior roles than before to reflect the fact that he has a wider remit outwith the utility.

Anderson will also continue to be responsible for Iberdrola's international offshore business based in Glasgow overseeing major wind development projects in the UK, France and Germany.

ScottishPower chairman Ignacio Galan said: "Keith has done an outstanding job at ScottishPower Renewables and his experience of developing it to the leading wind power generator in the UK will prove invaluable."

Anderson said the promotion was "a tremendous opportunity to represent Iberdrola's UK businesses at a crucial time for the energy industry".

He added: "Key to this will be developing the right regulatory and legislative frameworks that will allow us to deliver the investments that will build a cleaner energy future that will protect customers from volatile wholesale markets."

Anderson, an accountant who also holds an MBA, joined ScottishPower in 1999 and worked in roles including head of internal audit and UK strategy director before being appointed chief executive of ScottishPower Renewables in 2004.