Manchester-based last mile multi-utility network owner and operator, Leep Utilities (Leep), has strengthened its team with the appointment of two directors.
Lee Kitchen joined the company as Chief Financial Officer, and Helen Bishop as Director of Customer Operations.
In his new role, Lee is responsible for managing Leep’s day to day finance function and to provide strategic and financial guidance to the company’s CEO and board. He also oversees its finance and IT departments.
He joined Leep from ENGIE, a French utilities multinational business where he held various senior roles over an eight-year tenure, most prominently as Finance Director for their District Heating & Cooling business.
On his appointment, Lee said: “I joined Leep Utilities because of the vision that the board shares for the business and, given my industry experience, I believe I can add real value in helping them achieve their ambition through a period of rapid growth. I really feel like I’ve joined at a great time. Leep have successfully navigated an unprecedented and unpredictable couple of years and have a host of exciting initiatives and projects they are working on – there’s lots to keep me busy and I’m thrilled to be here.”
After her eight-year tenure at Thames Water, Helen Bishop joins Leep as Director of Customer Operations and brings with her enviable experience and a proven track record in customer and direct communication and engagement strategy.
In her previous role, Helen designed and directed a customer behavioural change programme for Thames Water. She also oversaw the investment to transform Thames Water’s customer bill for 3.6million customers, which measured a tangible benefit through reducing customer contact and complaints.
Helen said: “I am a strategic leader who thrives in a pressurised and challenging environment and bring to Leep over 15 years’ experience of designing and delivering customer transformation in the travel and water sectors. I’m passionate about making a difference for both customers’ and people and am very much looking forward to doing the same here.”
Leep Utilities’ CEO Louise Manfredi said: “It goes without saying that we’re delighted to welcome Helen and Lee to our team. They are both proven leaders within the utilities sector and their experience will be invaluable as we enter what is a significant and ambitious growth phase for us.
“They’re very important additions to our senior leadership and its testament to the great work that we’re doing – and our plans for the future – that we’re able to attract such high-calibre colleagues. We’re absolutely delighted to have them both on board.”
