In a News Release issued mid-afternoon today from Sellafield, BNFL has announced that Norman Askew will take over the company's Chief Executive's role as from 13th March 2000. He will replace John Taylor who officially resigned yesterday in the wake of the MOX falsification scandal and the NII's critical report on safety at Sellafield.
Until his return to the UK last year, Norman Askew was Chief Executive for Virginia Power in the United States, leading it through a major programme change from being a monopoly supplier into the competitive market place. Before his US post, Askew was Chief Executive of East Midlands Electricity.
BNFL Chairman Hugh Collum has said that Askew comes with a successful track record Ü a business man who has worked in engineering, energy, nuclear and aerospace sectors. He is highly regarded in industry and in the city. Collum also said " I will now be looking to Norman to help me with the comprehensive change programme that we are implementing within BNFL " and " we are progressing on a major exercise which will change the face of BNFL ".
Norman Askew has said " Safety and operational excellence go hand in hand. My focus will be on clarifying accountability within BNFL ..... change always represents an opportunity and I am excited by the prospect of helping to affect change within BNFL ".
Askew began his career with the global engineering company TI Group and was appointed President and Managing Director of TI's Aerospace business in the US in 1988. He later joined East Midlands Electricity becoming Chief Executive in 1993. Following Virginia Power's acquisition of East Midlands Electricity in 1997, he was appointed Chief Executive of the US firm, leading it through the process of de-regulation in the US. He is currently Chairman of Henly's Group plc.
Aged 57, Askew was born in Preston, Lancashire and now lives in Derbyshire. He is married with three children.
