Basil Scarsella, Chief Executive Officer, UK Power Networks
Basil has more than 20 years’ experience managing energy networks and has overseen our industry-leading performance since joining the company in 2011.
Between 2005 and 2011, Basil was the CEO of Northern Gas Networks: the company responsible for distributing gas to 2.5 million homes in the north east of England. From 1998 Basil was the CEO of ETSA Utilities, a privatised electricity distribution business in Australia. Between 1994 and 1998 he was General Manager of ETSA Power Corporation, responsible for electricity distribution, retailing, field services and customer services.
Basil holds a degree in Economics from the University of Adelaide and is a Fellow Certified Practicing Accountant. Basil received the Australian Sports Medal in 2000 and in 2003 became a Member of the Order of Australia (AM), for services to sport.
Suleman Alli, Director of Customer Service, Strategy, Regulation and Information Systems
Sul has more than 21 years’ experience in utilities. His responsibilities at UK Power Networks include strategy, regulation, customer service technology, data, analytics and innovation. Since he joined UK Power Networks in 2015, Sul has built high performing teams across his departments which are core to UK Power Networks’ business strategy.
Previously, Sul spent over 15 years at Accenture, the global consultancy where he was a Managing Director, leading their utility network operations work in the UK. Sul’s experience includes delivering business transformation, company restructures and improving performance across gas, electricity, and water sectors.
He holds a BSc (Hons) from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Jenny Harrison, Finance Director
Barry Hatton, Director of Asset Management
Barry has more than 40 years’ experience in the operations and management of electricity distribution networks. He is responsible for the development and deployment of network and asset strategies for optimising investment and performance at UK Power Networks.
Barry also oversees the network planning strategy and smart grid development team which is enabling the integration of more than 170,000 generators and creating a leading flexibility market. In 2020, UK Power Networks was ranked 1rst in Singapore Power Groups’ world Smart Grid index. The technical capabilities of a Distribution System Operator that Barry oversees are fundamental to enabling Net Zero.
Barry is a Chartered Electrical Engineer and a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology and has a Master’s degree in Technology Management.
Patrick Clarke, Director of Network Operations
Patrick is responsible for the day-to-day management of our crucial public purpose: delivering power reliably to more than eight million customers. He oversees the Network Operations directorate accounting for over 4,000 employees. He joined the industry in 1978 and has risen from an apprentice to an Executive Director. He has undertaken several Director roles during the past 20 years and has been an Executive Director for the past 17 years.
Throughout his career, Patrick has placed a strong emphasis on community investment. He has been voted among the top 50 most influential Afro-Caribbean men in the UK five times. In 2005 he co-authored the book ‘Made in Britain’, majoring on inspirational role models from British BAME communities. In 2012 he was awarded an OBE for services to Black Asian and Minority Ethnic Youth Mentoring. He also holds an Honorary Doctorate in Engineering, alongside an MBA and an MA.
Mark Adolphus, Director of Health, Safety, Sustainability and Connections
Mark is responsible for leading our Connections Directorate, which makes sure all our customers – including businesses operating major infrastructure upgrades and large scale commercial renewable energy sites – can connect to our network.
He also leads our Health, Safety and Sustainability Directorate, where we’ve achieved industry leading safety performance and worked with the carbon trust to have our sustainability targets verified by the Science Based Targets Initiative. Mark joined London Electricity in 1992, one UK Power Networks’ predecessor organisations. He’s enjoyed a diverse career across several operational, engineering and commercial roles.
Mark is a Chartered Electrical Engineer and holds a Master’s degree in Engineering Business Management from Warwick Business School, as well as a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Leicester.
Nirmal Kotecha, Director of Capital Programme and Procurement
Nirmal is responsible for our Capital Programme and Procurement Directorate and has over 30 years of experience working in infrastructure across gas, water, roads and electricity. Since joining in 2011, Nirmal has established a Procurement function that has been awarded an Advanced Platinum for Procurement Excellence by the C.I.P.S. He has also set up a successful Alliance Delivery model that has delivered our major capital programme in ED1 and will continue into ED2.
Previously, Nirmal was a Board Director at the Highways Agency for nearly four years where he was accountable for delivering the Agency’s £9 Billion Roads Programme and spent over eight years with Anglian Water.
Nirmal is Chair of the Infrastructure Client Group’s Management Board and a Non-Executive Director of the Major Projects Association. He is also a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers and the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply.
Andrew Pace, Director of HR, Legal and Company Secretary
Andrew Pace joined UK Power Networks as Director of Human Resources in January 2018 and looks after our employees as part of our vision to be an employer of choice. He also leads our legal team and acts as Secretary to the Board of UK Power Networks.
He has over 25 years’ leadership experience working for both UK and international companies across a range of sectors, including operational line management. Prior to joining UK Power Networks Andrew was Executive Director in construction and infrastructure at Morgan Sindall. His HR activities have spanned the whole range of areas including reward, resourcing, and organisation development.
Andrew holds an MBA from Nottingham Trent Business School and is a Chartered member of the Institute of Personnel and Development.
Ian Smyth, Director of UK Power Networks Services
Ian leads UK Power Networks Services, the commercial division within the UK Power Networks Group. UK Power Networks Services provides energy infrastructure solutions to the UK's largest private and public sector organisations. Working with grid-edge technologies in the last mile of infrastructure, the company supports these organisations to achieve their Net Zero journey, improve their resilience and reduce their costs.
Ian is an experienced leader, transforming utilities to adapt to and thrive in evolving energy systems. He has worked internationally across multiple regulatory regimes and modes including electricity, water and gas. Prior to joining UK Power Networks Services Ian was the EMEA Managing Director at Navigant, a Partner with LCP and a consultant with Ernst & Young.
Ian has a BA(Hons) and an MSc in philosophy, psychology, statistics and artificial intelligence.