Gas firm rings changes
THE boss of Centrica’s US retail gas arm is set to step into the hot seat at its British Gas business.
Centrica is lining up Chris Weston, who heads Direct Energy, as managing director of British Gas to succeed Phil Bentley, who steps down after six years.
Weston joined Centrica in 2001 when it bought One Tel. He ran its British Gas Business and British Gas Services divisions before he took his present job in 2009.
Bentley, 53, led British Gas as it and other gas and electricity suppliers faced criticism for rising household energy bills.
"Bentley is having to look elsewhere if he wants a chief executive role"
Speculation he had fallen out with Centrica chief executive Sam Laidlaw has been played down. But with Laidlaw likely to remain in post, Bentley is having to look elsewhere if he wants a chief executive role.
Bentley was paid £681,000 last year. He has £6.7million in shares and a £210,000-a-year pension.
Meanwhile, finance chief of rival gas explorer BG Group, Fabio Barbosa, is to become chairman of BG’s South American division, with a replacement finance director yet to be appointed.
BG also said it was selling conventional US gas producing assets to Exco Resources for £85.4million.