Gavin Patterson, the previous BT Group chief, is to chair the know-how arm of Britain’s fastest-growing main home vitality provider.
Sky News can reveal Mr Patterson has been appointed chairman of Kraken Technologies, which is a part of Octopus Energy Group.
Kraken, which is a cloud-based know-how platform that automates swathes of the vitality provide chain, has grown quickly lately and is now contracted to serve 40m buyer accounts throughout the UK, US, Japan, Australia and elements of Europe.
The firm mentioned it had the potential to develop that determine to 50m within the close to time period – that means it might be midway to the corporate’s objective of 100m buyer accounts on Kraken by 2027.
Kraken connects all elements of the vitality system, together with buyer billing and the versatile administration of renewable technology and vitality units comparable to warmth pumps and electrical car batteries.
It additionally unlocks sensible grids which allow folks to make use of extra renewable vitality when there’s an considerable provide of it.
Octopus Energy was Kraken’s first shopper, and it now has licensing offers with corporations together with Australia’s Origin Energy, Japan’s Tokyo Gas, and E.ON, EDF and Good Energy within the UK.
It has additionally branched out to different utility sectors, together with the water and the broadband trade.
Greg Jackson, founding father of Octopus Energy Group, mentioned: “Kraken is now a serious competitor to conventional enterprise software program corporations.
“[Mr Patterson’s] career as CEO of one of the biggest public utilities in Europe, and subsequent leadership roles at Salesforce and other technology companies brings huge experience to help us accelerate product delivery and growth on a global scale.”
Mr Patterson mentioned he had been “following the impressive work and growth of Kraken for the past few years”.
“Its relentless focus on innovation and speed has already changed the face of energy, and now it’s disrupting other industries too.
“I’m extremely proud to have joined the Kraken staff to additional unleash its energy, serving to to construct a worldwide sensible vitality system based mostly on renewable vitality.”
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The former BT chief govt’s appointment comes simply weeks after Octopus named Giles Andrews, a co-founder of the lender Zopa, as chairman of its EV division.
Octopus Energy not too long ago introduced the acquisition of Shell Energy Retail – a deal that may, as soon as accomplished, see it turn out to be a reputable challenger to British Gas, the market chief.
Source: information.sky.com”