Utility Bidder, one of the UK’s leading business energy brokers, announces the appointment of Simon Drakeford as its new Chief Executive Officer.

The transition follows the sad passing of former CEO Chris Shaw. His influence and leadership helped shape the company into a trusted partner for more than 90,000 UK businesses over the years. His legacy remains central to the company’s direction as it enters a new phase under Simon’s leadership.

A Proven Leader with a Track Record of Transformative Growth

Simon Drakeford brings over two decades of leadership across the technology, media, communications and business services sectors. His career includes international growth roles at Orange and T-Mobile, where he delivered more than £100 million in incremental online revenue and secured over £20 million in operational cost savings.

In his most recent position at EO Group, he transformed a £10 million online retailer into a £45 million international software and services business. His work included launching Office Power, a digitally integrated ERP and outsourced operations platform, and later developing Ctrl-Commerce, a standalone SaaS ERP solution supporting B2B and B2B2C organisations across Europe.

Simon has also steered companies through complex restructuring, acquisitions, and market disruption, including the COVID-19 crisis, ensuring resilience for customers, staff, and partners. His leadership style blends operational discipline with a strong focus on people and long-term strategic clarity.

 

Accelerating Utility Bidder’s Technology and Market Ambitions

Founded in 2009, Utility Bidder has grown into a go-to broker for UK organisations navigating electricity, gas, and water procurement. The company has earned multiple industry awards for its service, consultancy excellence, and customer outcomes.

Simon’s appointment comes as the company prepares to scale its digital infrastructure, expand supplier partnerships, and enhance the online procurement experience for SMEs, enterprises, and public sector organisations. Key priorities include:

 

• Expanding Utility Bidder’s digital quotation and comparison platforms
• Introducing more intelligent automation and customer self-serve tools
• Strengthening national partnerships with leading utility suppliers
• Improving data-driven insights to help businesses control long-term energy costs

 

“We are honoured to welcome Simon Drakeford as CEO of Utility Bidder,” said Mark Robson, interim CEO. “Simon’s track record in transforming digital businesses makes him the right leader to carry forward our mission while building on the foundation Chris Shaw created. We are entering an ambitious new chapter, and Simon’s experience positions us to deliver even more value to our customers and partners.”

Simon commented on his new role:

“Utility Bidder has an extraordinary foundation built through years of commitment to customers, partners, and colleagues. That legacy, shaped so powerfully by Chris Shaw, is something I feel honoured to continue. Energy markets are complex and volatile, so businesses need clarity, transparency, and technology they can trust.”

“My focus will be on accelerating our digital capabilities, strengthening our partnerships, and creating an even more intuitive experience for customers of every size. Utility Bidder is already a leader in the sector, and we have the opportunity to become the most customer-centric, digitally enabled broker in the UK. I am genuinely excited to lead the team into this next chapter.”

This leadership shift marks a continuation of Utility Bidder’s commitment to simpler, smarter, and more cost-effective energy procurement, backed by modern digital platforms and a refreshed long-term growth strategy.

For more information about Utility Bidder and how it can help your organisation optimise utility costs, visit Utility Bidder | Award Winning Business Utility Comparison.