Mark McAllister, the Chair of the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), has been selected as the preferred candidate for the Chair of Ofgem post.
This appointment is subject to the scrutiny of the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee at a forthcoming pre-appointment hearing.
If subsequently approved by Ministers, Mark is set to leave ONR after more than four successful years in his current role.
Ofgem is Great Britain’s government regulator for the electricity and downstream natural gas markets.
As Chair of ONR is a Ministerial appointment, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), ONR’s sponsor department, would begin recruitment of Mark's successor through an open competition once a departure is confirmed.
During his time as ONR Chair, Mark has been responsible for ensuring that it delivers its mission to provide efficient and effective regulation of the nuclear industry on behalf of the public.
Before coming to ONR, Mark worked in the international oil industry since 1979. He served as Chairman of Oil Spill Response and Prevention Advisory Group (OSPRAG) which formulated the joint response of the North Sea oil industry, trade unions and government to the Macondo blowout in the Gulf of Mexico.
In 2009, Mark was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Technology from Robert Gordon University in recognition of services to the oil industry.
Work is already underway to appoint an interim ONR Chair as required until a permanent selection can be made through open competition.