Kinsey’s future at LE Group in doubt

London Electricity (LE) Group managing director John Kinsey’s future at the company is on a knife-edge, after a complex management restructure. The restructure follows the recent acquisition of electricity company Seeboard.

Insiders have suggested that Kinsey will leave as a result of the merger, although both Kinsey and LE Group’s press office refused to comment as Marketing Week went to press. A spokesman for LE Group says: “I am neither denying nor confirming that Kinsey is leaving.” Kinsey is responsible for the retail and supply of all LE Group brands.

The restructure will see the formation of three divisions within the group. The customer group will comprise the sales and retail business; the energy group will cover power generation; and the networks division will cover infrastructure such as cables.

Industry observers say that Seeboard managing director Peter Hoffman could be in the running to head the customer group division.

Kinsey was made LE Group managing director last year, following the departure of Martin Wenban (MW October 18, 2001). He had been appointed managing director of Virgin Energy when the company was established in 2000. He is a former British Gas marketing boss and was Camelot’s marketing director during the launch of the National Lottery.

Seeboard was acquired from American Electric Power by the LE Group – itself a subsidiary of Electricité de France (EdF) – this summer (MW June 20). The French state, EdF’s sole shareholder, recently voiced concerns over the company’s declining profitability, due to losses at its international holdings.