Guernsey has appointed a new Chair to its board of directors following the retirement of Ian Hardman.
Peter Shaefer, a current board member at the local utility, is to take on his new role in July, replacing Mr Hardman, who has been part of the executive team for 11 years, of which seven as Chair and also as a non-executive director. The company continues to be led by Alan Bates, chief executive officer.
Outgoing Chair, Mr Hardman, said: “It has been a privilege to serve the people of Guernsey over the past decade. We have ensured that ‘we kept the lights on’ through many challenges including subsea cable breakages that were repaired in record time and, of course, more recently, by providing a critical service for the Island during the pandemic.
“I have worked alongside some superb and talented people at Guernsey Electricity, benefitting from their wealth of expertise and industry experience, so am confident I am leaving the company under the excellent leadership of Alan, Peter and the board of directors.”
Peter Shaefer has an honours degree in geology and is a chartered accountant. He has substantial business and commercial experience, having held a number of senior positions in both energy and consumer products industries, including as a member of the executive committee of the US-listed company Coty Inc. Mr Shaefer joined Guernsey Electricity as a non-executive director in 2018.
Commenting on his new role, Mr Shaefer said: “I am really looking forward to the challenge. As an Island, and as a company, we are at a pivotal time as we set out to deliver on the energy policy and ensure we pursue the right electricity strategy in a fair and equitable way.”
The main picture shows, left to right, Ian Hardman, retiring Chair at Guernsey Electricity and Peter Shaefer, who takes on the role in July 2022.
