Reading’s Leep Utilities makes two senior appointments

Published by

Sam Pither

Image credit: Leep Utilities

Leep Utilities, a Reading-based last mile multi-utility network owner and operator, has appointed two directors.

Joining as Chief Financial Officer is Lee Kitchen, previously of French utilities multinational ENGIE where, across his eight-year tenure, he held various senior roles, most prominently as Finance Director for their district heating and cooling business.

At Leep, Lee manages the day to day finance function while providing the company’s CEO and board with strategic and financial guidance. He also manages its finance and IT departments.

Lee said: “I joined Leep Utilities because of the vision that the board shares for the business and, given my industry experience, I believe I can add real value in helping them achieve their ambition through a period of rapid growth.

“I really feel like I’ve joined at a great time. Leep has successfully navigated an unprecedented and
unpredictable couple of years and have a host of exciting initiatives and projects they are working on – there’s lots to keep me busy and I’m thrilled to be here.”

Helen Bishop also joins Leep as Director of Customer Operations, bringing experience in customer and direct communication and engagement strategy.

Helen’s previous role saw her designing and directing a customer behavioural change programme at Thames Water, where she worked for eight years. She also managed the investment to change Thames Water’s customer bill for its 3.6 million customers, seeing a tangible reduction in customer contact and complaints.

Helen said: “I am a strategic leader who thrives in a pressurised and challenging environment and bring to Leep over 15 years’ experience of designing and delivering customer transformation in the travel and water sectors.

“I’m passionate about making a difference for both customers and people and am very much looking forward to doing the same here.”

Leep Utilities’ CEO Louise Manfredi said: “It goes without saying that we’re delighted to welcome Helen and Lee to our team. They are both proven leaders within the utilities sector and their experience will be invaluable as we enter what is a significant and ambitious growth phase for us.

“They’re very important additions to our senior leadership and its testament to the great work that we’re doing – and our plans for the future – that we’re able to attract such high- calibre colleagues. We’re absolutely delighted to have them both on board.”

Featured image credit: Leep Utilities

Sam Pither

Sam is the Regional Editor of Biz News, responsible for both Hampshire and Dorset. A new recruit to journalism, Sam started writing for the Business Magazine as a freelancer in May of 2022 after completing his degree in English at University College London. His passion for local businesses and ability to tell a story soon caught the attention of the publication’s management team and have led to his meteoric rise. Sam, who lives in central Reading, takes a particular interest in technology, gaming and food and drink, having been a chef before starting his degree.