Difference between revisions of "Ian Russell"
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==Restructuring the company== | ==Restructuring the company== | ||
| − | + | In September of 2005, Mr. Russell was faced with a growing threat from the stock market as [[Scottish Power]]'s shares had recently soared causing rumours of its German rival, and owner of Powergen, [[E.ON]] wanting to buy the company. After meeing with the chairman, [[Charles Miller Smith]], and the finance director, [[Simon Lowth]], it was decided that a major restructuring had to take place - one that involved getting rid of two of his top executives - [[David Nish]] and Charles Berry. Along with these sackings, the human resources director, Mike Pittman, and the communications chief, [[Dominic Fry]] were dismissed as well. Mr. Russell's explanation referred back to late May when [[Scottish Power]] announced the £5.1 billion sale of its giant US business [[PacifiCorp]] to the world-famous entrepreneur Warren Buffet. | |
==Company Payoff== | ==Company Payoff== | ||
Revision as of 16:31, 19 April 2007
Background
Until 2006, Ian was Chief Executive of Scottish Power plc having been appointed to this position in April 2001. He joined as Finance Director in April 1994 and became Deputy Chief Executive in November 1998.
In 2004 and 2005, Ian chaired the Russell Commission review on youth volunteering for the Chancellor and Home Secretary.
Prior to joining Scottish Power, he held a number of financial positions at HSBC and Mars Ltd, among others.
He is a Non-Executive Director on a number of boards, including Business in the Community, and chairs a private equity management company. He is also Chair of the Fundraising Board of University of Edinburgh.[2]
Ian is also a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland, having trained with Thomson McLintock. He serves on the Council of Edinburgh International Festival and the Scottish Council of the Prince's Trust. [3]
Restructuring the company
In September of 2005, Mr. Russell was faced with a growing threat from the stock market as Scottish Power's shares had recently soared causing rumours of its German rival, and owner of Powergen, E.ON wanting to buy the company. After meeing with the chairman, Charles Miller Smith, and the finance director, Simon Lowth, it was decided that a major restructuring had to take place - one that involved getting rid of two of his top executives - David Nish and Charles Berry. Along with these sackings, the human resources director, Mike Pittman, and the communications chief, Dominic Fry were dismissed as well. Mr. Russell's explanation referred back to late May when Scottish Power announced the £5.1 billion sale of its giant US business PacifiCorp to the world-famous entrepreneur Warren Buffet.
Company Payoff
The gas and electricity provider's former chief executive Ian Russell and three colleagues received £10.9m for pay and pension compensation. The sums have been branded 'obscene' by the Scottish National Party energy spokesman Richard Lochhead, and come to light just three months after the electricity and gas provider warned customers about inflation-busting bill hikes.
Mr. Russell, who left in January of 2006 after five years as chief executive, received a £2.3m compensation payment as well as benefiting from a resultant pension top-up of £2.7m. The compensation sum is more than three times his salary of £648,000, while his pension windfall nearly doubled his total entitlement to £6.8m. [4]
Notes
- ^ Photograph from Business in the CommunityBoard of Trustee Directors, Ian Russell, accessed 15 April 2007.
- ^ Member history from Business in the CommunityBoard of Trustee Directors, Ian Russell, accessed 15 April 2007.
- ^ Member history from Internet Archive WayBackMachineScottish Power Our People page 6 March 2004, Ian Russell, accessed 15 April 2007.
- ^ Payoff information from ThisIsMoney Sacked power chiefs get 'obscene' pay-off News, accessed 18 June 2006.
