TXU marketing chief to quit following restructure

TXU Energi’s marketing chief Matthew Crane is to step down in June, following the company’s acquisition by Powergen last year. He is not believed to have a job to go to.

Crane, a former Safeway marketer, is involved in the integration of the TXU business into Powergen and reports to Powergen’s new sales and marketing director, Paul Parmenter.

Following the acquisition of TXU Energi, Powergen announced that it would be axing 1,000 jobs.

Crane’s exit follows the departure of Roger Partington, the European head of retail business at TXU. Partington, also a former Safeway marketer, left after his position was merged into TXU’s trading and energy generation operations (MW October 10, 2002).

During his time at TXU, Crane was responsible for the merger of Norweb Energi and Eastern Energy as TXU Energi in 2001.

TXU Energi was sold by its US parent company TXU in a deal worth £1.6bn to Eon-owned Powergen last year (MW October 24, 2002). The TXU brand is being axed following its acquisition.

Meanwhile, Powergen has yet to give its former marketing director, John Evans, a specific role within the company. Evans is working on “branding projects” at Powergen.

Last week, energy watchdog Energywatch urged customers to ditch Powergen and shop around for better deals following the announcement of a 6.2 per cent hike in the price of gas (MW last week). The price hike will be effective from May and will affect 2.2m Powergen and TXU customers.