George Eykyn Email & Phone Number

Worthing, United Kingdom

Member of the Executive Committee in Southern Water, which serves 4.7m customers across Kent, Sussex, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. The company has 2,500 employees and a contracted fieldforce of several thousand. Backed by our majority shareholder, Macquarie Asset Management, we are delivering an ambitious 2-year turnaround plan, investing heavily in improvements for customers. We have submitted a bold business plan to Ofwat for the next regulatory period, proposing £7.8bn of investment… Show more Member of the Executive Committee in Southern Water, which serves 4.7m customers across Kent, Sussex, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. The company has 2,500 employees and a contracted fieldforce of several thousand. Backed by our majority shareholder, Macquarie Asset Management, we are delivering an ambitious 2-year turnaround plan, investing heavily in improvements for customers. We have submitted a bold business plan to Ofwat for the next regulatory period, proposing £7.8bn of investment between 2025-30.I lead the team covering strategic communications, media relations, public affairs, stakeholder engagement, brand and digital content, social media, employee comms and engagement, and ESG/sustainability. Show less

London, United Kingdom

Member of the Executive Committee. Led the corporate affairs team at the Data Communications Company (DCC), a subsidiary of Capita PLC which delivers and operates the nationwide secure network supporting energy smart meters, with more than 28 million connected to the platform.Promoted the DCC’s work to digitise and transform Britain’s energy system, enabling the transition to a greener economy and progress towards the Net Zero target. The network is essential national infrastructure… Show more Member of the Executive Committee. Led the corporate affairs team at the Data Communications Company (DCC), a subsidiary of Capita PLC which delivers and operates the nationwide secure network supporting energy smart meters, with more than 28 million connected to the platform.Promoted the DCC’s work to digitise and transform Britain’s energy system, enabling the transition to a greener economy and progress towards the Net Zero target. The network is essential national infrastructure with the potential to support nationwide electric vehicle (EV) smart charging and deliver wider societal benefits. I led engagement of stakeholders and influencers, positioning the DCC’s network as a national asset which enables innovation.I was central to the process of formalising the DCC's purpose - "making Britain more connected, so we can all lead smarter, greener lives".I introduced a new responsible business framework encompassing all aspects of sustainability and ESG. In parallel, I completed the Business Sustainability Management course from the Cambridge University Institute for Sustainability Leadership.I worked closely with Government, Ofgem, Smart Energy GB, Energy UK, and DCC’s customers (energy suppliers and network operators) to defend the smart meter roll-out against sometimes sustained attacks in the media, broadening understanding of its progress and public benefits, and explaining the vital role played by the DCC network. I delivered significant improvements in PR influence, positive coverage and reach.During this period DCC's principal programmes were:- the nationwide roll-out of second-generation, interoperable smart meters (more than 16m connected by August 2023)- the migration of 11.5 million first-generation smart meters onto the secure network (restoring smart functionality and interoperability to meters which may have gone "dumb" after a switch of supplier)- the Faster Switching programme for Ofgem Show less

Staines

I led external communications and PR for British Gas, and Centrica PLC’s other consumer brands Hive and Dyno, in the UK and Europe. These brands were constantly in the public eye, with 10,000s of consumer touchpoints every day.I was a senior member of the Centrica PLC corporate affairs team, which repositioned the company as a 21st century energy and services company harnessing innovation and technology to meet the changing needs of its customers. Within British Gas, I served on… Show more I led external communications and PR for British Gas, and Centrica PLC’s other consumer brands Hive and Dyno, in the UK and Europe. These brands were constantly in the public eye, with 10,000s of consumer touchpoints every day.I was a senior member of the Centrica PLC corporate affairs team, which repositioned the company as a 21st century energy and services company harnessing innovation and technology to meet the changing needs of its customers. Within British Gas, I served on the Management Team. I led a communications function of 15, with high levels of performance and engagement. Responsible for communications strategy, campaigns, media relations, issues/crisis management, and digital and social media across energy supply and services (B2C and B2B), smart metering, connected home, skills and corporate citizenship. For much of this period the CMA was investigating Britain's retail energy market and supplier behaviour. I contributed to improved reputation and brand metrics despite an external environment of consistently intense scrutiny and pressure from Government and politicians, regulatory authorities, media and consumer groups. Delivered measurable improvements in PR influence, key message penetration, and positive coverage/reach.I worked closely with public affairs, regulatory affairs, investor relations, internal communications, marketing, legal, HR and finance, as well as customer-facing business units. I was in the core Centrica PLC team managing communications for four cycles of annual and half-year results, and AGMs.Learning and qualifications during this period:- Member of the 2017 Corporate Affairs Academy programme at the Oxford Saïd Business School, contributing to its annual study of reputation management.- Achieved the Certificate in Investor Relations (CIR) from the IR Society.- Completed "Finance & Accounting for Non-Financial Managers" course, Cambridge Judge Business School. Show less

London, United Kingdom

Led a full-service corporate team in a busy UK Government department -- including media relations, strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, marketing/campaigns, digital and social media, and internal comms. DCLG’s responsibilities included local economic growth, planning, housing, local government finance, the fire service, troubled families, homelessness, faith and integration. Flagship campaigns included the award-winning "Fire Kills" campaign promoting the ownership… Show more Led a full-service corporate team in a busy UK Government department -- including media relations, strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, marketing/campaigns, digital and social media, and internal comms. DCLG’s responsibilities included local economic growth, planning, housing, local government finance, the fire service, troubled families, homelessness, faith and integration. Flagship campaigns included the award-winning "Fire Kills" campaign promoting the ownership and testing of smoke alarms in the home, and "Right to Buy". Oversaw a radical increase in use of social media.Served three Secretaries of State: Hazel Blears, John Denham and Sir Eric Pickles. Restructured the team following the 2010 election, downsizing by more than 40%.Senior member of the Whitehall Directors of Communications group. Closely involved with the restructure of Government communications, reforming its competency framework and talent management strategy. Regular platform speaking and writing for publication. Show less

London, United Kingdom

Built and led a successful government and public sector communication advisory practice, generating substantial revenues and securing repeat clients.Clients included governments in the Middle East and former Soviet Union, UK departments, agencies and public sector organisations such as NHS trusts, local authorities and police forces. Assignments ranged from communication strategy and complex stakeholder analysis to media training, crisis management, turnarounds, and facilitation… Show more Built and led a successful government and public sector communication advisory practice, generating substantial revenues and securing repeat clients.Clients included governments in the Middle East and former Soviet Union, UK departments, agencies and public sector organisations such as NHS trusts, local authorities and police forces. Assignments ranged from communication strategy and complex stakeholder analysis to media training, crisis management, turnarounds, and facilitation of large-scale public events. Spent almost a year with "Fever Pitch", PwC's team of expert bid specialists. In this role, was directly involved in business wins worth more than £10m in the private and public sectors.Qualified as a Programme Manager: "Managing Successful Programmes" (MSP). Show less

Reporting for BBC network news (TV, radio and online) from the UK and overseas. Reporting experience dominated by the conflicts in former Yugoslavia, stand-offs with Iraq, and the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Assignments across Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Central America. Covered a wide range of business, politics, terrorism, crime and natural disasters.Helped develop pioneering BBC Safety Training programmes in mid 1990s, including: Battlefield First Aid; Hostile Environments;… Show more Reporting for BBC network news (TV, radio and online) from the UK and overseas. Reporting experience dominated by the conflicts in former Yugoslavia, stand-offs with Iraq, and the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Assignments across Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Central America. Covered a wide range of business, politics, terrorism, crime and natural disasters.Helped develop pioneering BBC Safety Training programmes in mid 1990s, including: Battlefield First Aid; Hostile Environments; Riot Training; Chemical/Biological/Radiological/Nuclear Protection.Exposed the best-selling SAS author “Tom Carew” on camera as a fraudster who had never served (Newsnight exclusive, Nov 2001). Show less

Spent more than 8 months on the ground in former Yugoslavia during the Bosnian conflict. Provided first incontrovertible video evidence that the Mujahideen had arrived to fight in Bosnia (Breakfast News exclusive, Sep 1992). First reporter in more than a year to cross the frontline and enter the besieged enclave of Gorazde in eastern Bosnia (Mar 1994). Investigated several atrocities, supplying detailed evidence to the International Criminal Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia… Show more Spent more than 8 months on the ground in former Yugoslavia during the Bosnian conflict. Provided first incontrovertible video evidence that the Mujahideen had arrived to fight in Bosnia (Breakfast News exclusive, Sep 1992). First reporter in more than a year to cross the frontline and enter the besieged enclave of Gorazde in eastern Bosnia (Mar 1994). Investigated several atrocities, supplying detailed evidence to the International Criminal Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia (ICTFY), which was used in war crimes trials. Show less

Also presented BBC News 24, "Global" on Radio 5 Live, and some of the first BBC News webcasts.

Belfast, United Kingdom

Covering a period of intense violence and political change. Deputised frequently for the BBC's Ireland Correspondent.

Reported for the BBC's Today Programme, World at One, PM, and every UK national newspaper. Secured first Fleet Street reporting shifts aged 19, and first national front page by-line aged 20.