Laidlaw to stay and Bentley to leave in British Gas shake up

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Laidlaw to stay and Bentley to leave in British Gas shake up

7 January 2013

Phil Bentley, the managing director of British Gas, is expected to leave the company while Centrica chief executive Sam Laidlaw will stay on.

Sources close to Centrica told Utility Week that Laidlaw will remain in his position, while Bentley is likely to leave after Centrica post their preliminary results at the end of February.

It is thought the pair had a disagreement about the business, and Bentley is likely to step down amid a strategic review of activities at British Gas.

The timing of Bentley's potential departure has been described as "nonsensical" by the GMB union.

Gary Smith, national secretary for energy and utilities for the trade union, said: "I have spoken to a lot of people and there is a concern about the way Centrica is handling this, and that it is damaging morale in the middle of winter, which is the busiest time for the engineers."

Smith also pointed out the relationship between the union and Bentley was positive, adding: "Industrial relations are hard, and we do argue, but things are much better under the Phil Bentley regime than in years gone by."

Bentley, 53, joined Centrica in 2000 as a finance director before moving across to British Gas as its managing director in 2007.
Source: Utility Week

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