RenewableUK thanks former Chief Executive Dan McGrail for transformative leadership as he takes up permanent post at Great British Energy

7 July 2025 - RenewableUK press release

Commenting on today’s announcement that RenewableUK’s former Chief Executive Dan McGrail will become CEO of the Government’s publicly-owned energy company Great British Energy, following his period there as interim CEO which began in March, RenewableUK’s Deputy Chief Executive Jane Cooper said:

“We wish Dan all the very best in his crucial role leading Great British Energy, which he has spent the last few months setting up so successfully. Although he will be greatly missed by everyone at RenewableUK, his leadership skills and vision, backed by a highly capable team, have left us in the strongest possible position to thrive as we continue to expand our membership and champion the sector. Great British Energy’s ambitious plans to invest in vital new renewable energy projects, including an initial £300 million in offshore wind, will help to create tens of thousands of new jobs all over the country in innovative industries with world-class supply chains which we are proud to represent."

The Chair of RenewableUK’s Board of Directors Paul Cooley, Director of Offshore Wind at SSE Renewables, said:

“Dan’s transformative leadership of RenewableUK over the past four years has put the association in a strong position as it supports its members to deliver the energy transition in a way that creates enormous social and economic benefits for the UK. I’d like to thank him for his dynamic and inspirational work in helping RenewableUK to grow from strength to strength. Dan’s wealth of experience in the clean energy sector means that he is ideally placed to maximise the positive impact of Great British Energy on the UK economy in the years ahead. Our Industrial Growth Plan shows that growing the UK’s offshore wind supply chain by focussing on high-value goods and services will boost our economy by £25bn over the next ten years, and the Government’s Industrial Strategy identifies clean energy as one of the sectors with the highest growth opportunities for this country.

“I’d also like to thank Jane for her brilliant work over the past four months leading the RenewableUK team and helping our trade association to thrive during a landmark year of growth for our sector."

RenewableUK will begin the process of recruiting a new Chief Executive shortly, and will make an announcement on this in due course.

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Notes

For further information, contact

Robert Norris, Head of Communications
07969 229 913 | Robert.Norris@RenewableUK.com

1. RenewableUK’s members are building our future energy system, powered by clean electricity. We bring them together to deliver that future faster; a future which is better for industry, billpayers, and the environment. We support over 500 member companies to ensure increasing amounts of renewable electricity are deployed across the UK and to access export markets all over the world. Our members are business leaders, technology innovators, and expert thinkers from right across industry.
   
   


2. RenewableUK’s events programme is available here.
   
   


3. Dan McGrail’s appointment as Chief Executive of RenewableUK was announced in February 2021 and he took up the post in May 2021.