Top-level restructure sparks npower hunt for sales chief

Npower, the utility giant, is seeking a sales and marketing director after a restructure of its top-level staff. It follows the promotion of Giuseppe Di Vita to managing director of its residential division earlier in the year.

It is not clear how the new role will affect Kevin Peake (pictured), head of customer residential marketing. It is understood his role has changed recently, but a source says he is not in the running for the new role because of his lack of sales experience.

The new sales and marketing director will report to Di Vita but it is not known if there will be a further restructure of the department. Peake and sales director Andy Davies both report to Di Vita.

Di Vita was promoted after Kevin Miles, the former managing director of residential, was made chief executive. This followed the retirement of David Threlfall.

Peake joined npower in 2000 as its head of brand and he is responsible for the company’s consumer brand side but is not involved in sales.

Npower came under fire recently after its sales teams were accused of mis-selling to consumers. Ofgem is also investigating the company for over-charging its customers by up to £25 per person. Earlier this month, it was named as Britain’s worst company for customer service by energy watchdog Energywatch, replacing British Gas.

Earlier this year, it unveiled its first marketing campaign to support its renewable energy product, Juice. The ad, which was created by Beattie McGuiness Bungay, shows a woman splashing green paint over electrical and heating products in her house. The Juice scheme was launched in 2001 in partnership with Greenpeace.