Smart Energy GB announces that Sacha Deshmukh is moving on after six years as Chief Executive

Smart Energy GB has announced that Sacha Deshmukh will be stepping down from the role of Chief Executive at the end of March 2020.

Sacha joined the company in 2013 as Chief Executive and since that time has led the company through its growth to have delivered one of the most significant public engagement campaigns of recent years. The government has recently proposed that the smart metering rollout should be extended to the end of 2024 and Smart Energy GB will be expected to continue to support the smart metering rollout over that period. 

Smart Energy GB Chair Mark Lund said:

“Sacha has been an exceptional Chief Executive of Smart Energy GB, leading the company through the first six years of its life and through the first phase of the national smart meter rollout. He led the company as it delivered award-winning public engagement campaigns in what has traditionally been a very low-interest category, and generated an exceptional level of demand to take up smart meters. He has embodied Smart Energy GB’s culture, one of dynamism, creativity and high standards. He has also helped create an organisation in which talent has been encouraged to grow and thrive.

As Smart Energy GB now looks to an extended life into the mid-2020s, Sacha has decided that he wants to move onto new challenges. I am pleased that Sacha has agreed that he will continue as Chief Executive until next spring and so support a smooth handover to his successor.”

Sacha Deshmukh said:

“Being Chief Executive of Smart Energy GB has been the most exceptional privilege. I’ve been fortunate to have worked with incredible talent in both our own team and our agencies, and have a unique opportunity to lead the national engagement campaign for one of the most important infrastructure upgrades that this country has undertaken for a generation.  

Thanks to Smart Energy GB’s work, we have moved from a situation where very few people in Great Britain had even heard of smart meters, to one in which there is a strong level of demand and over 15 million smart meters have been installed already, with over 10,000 smart meters being installed in homes every single day.

Deciding that it is the right time to move on from Smart Energy GB hasn’t been an easy decision. I am thrilled that government has committed that the smart meter rollout must be universal and set out its roadmap to completing the rollout at the end of 2024. Having led Smart Energy GB through its first six years, it is now the right time to hand over the reins to a new leader to take the organisation through to its next phase.”

The successor to the role of Chief Executive at Smart Energy GB will be announced in due course.

-ENDS-

Notes to editors

About smart meters and the rollout

Britain is committed to a cleaner future - one with zero carbon, zero emissions and reduced pollution.

To make this happen, our nation requires a major upgrade to its energy infrastructure, specifically, it requires the creation of a smart energy system. Smart meters, which replace traditional, analogue meters, are the building blocks of a more reliable, clean and affordable energy infrastructure, allowing Great Britain to better manage energy use, transition to mass uptake of electric vehicles and to build a greener economy.

There are already 15.6 million smart meters installed in homes and microbusinesses across Great Britain. Every household in England, Scotland and Wales can now see their energy use in near real time, receive accurate bills and do their bit for the planet, by requesting a smart meter, at no extra cost, from their energy supplier.

About Smart Energy GB

Smart Energy GB is the campaign for a smarter Britain. It's our task to help everyone in Great Britain understand smart meters, the national rollout and how to use their new meters to be cleaner and greener with their energy use. Our national campaign is reaching households and microbusinesses in England, Scotland and Wales. For more information visit our website smartenergyGB.org

Smart Energy GB media contacts

For more information including interview requests, case studies of smart meter users, infographics, photography and video content please contact the Smart Energy GB media team:

Ben Welling: [email protected]; 0203 019 1063 / 0792 181 9353

Stephen Shawcross: [email protected]; 0203 019 1057