Archives: Management Profile

Philip Cox CBE, Chair

31 May 2017

Contribution and Experience

Philip’s responsibilities at Drax included Board composition and succession, Board governance and stakeholder engagement.

He was previously CEO of International Power plc, having formerly been CFO. Prior to this he held a senior operational position at Invensys plc and was CFO at Siebe plc. As a non-executive, he was previously Chair of Kier Group plc, the Senior Independent Director at Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc, Chair of Global Power Generation and a member of the boards of Talen Energy Corporation, PPL, Meggitt plc and Wincanton plc.

Philip is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and has an MA from Cambridge University.

Philip is an experienced leader of large businesses, particularly in the energy sector. As Chair, Philip cultivated a culture of openness, transparency and honesty on the Board in which constructive debate and challenge occurs and all directors contribute fully. Philip has an in-depth knowledge of energy markets and the related regulation. He also has extensive experience in stakeholder engagement.

Appointment to the Board:

January 2015 – December 2023

Appointment as Chair:

April 2015 – December 2023

Will Gardiner, Group Chief Executive Officer

Contribution and experience

Will has developed the vision and strategy of Drax, as well as driving the operational performance of the Company since becoming CEO in January 2018, inspiring our transformation into a leading UK renewable energy company with a diversified portfolio of flexible and renewable power generation, as well biomass power generation and the associated supply chain. Will is driven by the challenge of delivering our purpose: to enable a zero carbon, lower cost energy future, while at the same time delivering outstanding returns for shareholders. He is currently spearheading Drax’s strategy to provide more secure, sustainable and affordable energy to meet growing demand in an increasingly complex world.

Will is deeply committed to creating a company where everyone feels valued. Working with stakeholders across the spectrum, Will is creating a company that delivers for people, nature and the climate, as well as our shareholders.

Will is a member of the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders and a member of Conservation International’s European Council. Will joined Drax in 2015 as CFO and was appointed as CEO in January 2018. In September 2024, Will became Executive Chair of Elimini. He has a wealth of experience in finance and technology, having held CFO and divisional Finance Director roles at a number of major companies, including CSR plc (acquired by Qualcomm, Inc in 2015) and Sky. He has dual US-UK citizenship and has lived and worked in the UK since 1998.

Appointment to the Board: November 2015