Matthew Cole has been appointed as the new independent chair of the Energy Switch Guarantee (ESG).
The ESG – a voluntary industry initiative launched by Energy UK in 2016 – aims to ensure switching is simple, speedy and safe for energy consumers and covers nearly 80% of the market.
Audrey Gallacher, Energy UK’s deputy chief executive and director of policy said:
“Matthew offers substantial experience in being an advocate for energy consumers and improving customer outcomes. This will be instrumental in building their confidence in the Energy Switch Guarantee as a guarantee of speedy, seamless switching. I would like to thank Pamela Taylor, our outgoing chair, for the role she played in maintaining the ESG’s strength and reinforcing its standards in a rapidly changing and dynamic retail market during her tenure.”
Matthew Cole, independent chair of the Energy Switch Guarantee said:
“I’m really pleased to be appointed chair of the Energy Switch Guarantee. The Guarantee is a great initiative aimed at improving switching standards in the energy industry, providing consumers with the confidence to switch and ultimately, increasing customer engagement with the energy retail market. I look forward to getting to work with suppliers and the board to make the ESG the go-to trustmark consumers look for when switching energy provider.”
Notes to editors:
- Matthew Cole is a consumer champion, passionate about helping the energy industry identify and deliver great – but also innovative and unique – outcomes for customers. And then importantly to use this to both raise their profile and to change perceptions. Previously Matthew was responsible for npower’s home and small business response to evolving public policy, plus defining and commissioning services to support npower customers most in need. A policy-geek at heart, over the last few years he redefined npower’s charitable projects and partnerships, generating greater business buy-in and advocacy by aligning them alongside the company’s main business activities. Under his stewardship npower’s social energy programme and partnerships with Trussell Trust and Macmillan Cancer Support won prestigious awards recognising both their innovative nature and the positive energy outcomes delivered for clients. Recently he established the independent Fuel Bank Foundation to provide additional support to families living without heat or power, using the lived experience of the 400k people helped to date to influence and shape government policy, and to drive a renewed focus on delivering great customer outcomes back across the energy industry. Matt is also a member of Scottish Power Energy Networks Customer Engagement Group and continues to advocate and provide a voice for some of the unique energy-related issues encountered by the most vulnerable groups in society.Passionate about the energy transition, Matt campaigns for all customers to be better engaged across the energy sector to support and facilitate the drive to Net Zero.
- Appointments are made by the board of the Energy Switch Guarantee (ESG).
- Find out more about the Guarantee on the ESG website.