Iain Conn

Iain Conn
Christian Lambiotte / European Union, 2005 / EC - Audiovisual Service · CC BY 4.0 · source
Name	Iain Conn
Birth date	1962
Birth place	Scotland
Alma mater	University of Manchester (BSc, PhD)
Occupation	Business executive
Years active	1985–present
Employer	Formerly BP plc, National Grid plc
Title	Former Chief Executive, National Grid plc

Iain Conn is a British business executive and chemical engineer notable for senior leadership in the energy and utility sectors, with a career spanning multinational corporations, advisory roles, and board appointments. He served in executive roles at BP plc and as chief executive officer of National Grid plc, later holding multiple non-executive directorships and advisory positions in the United Kingdom and internationally. Conn's work intersected with major organizations and policy institutions including regulators, industrial groups, and financial stakeholders.

Early life and education

Conn was born in Scotland and studied chemical engineering at the University of Manchester, where he completed a Bachelor of Science and later a PhD in process engineering. During his academic period he engaged with research communities associated with the Institution of Chemical Engineers and maintained links with technical networks connected to Imperial College London and the University of Cambridge. His doctoral work and early publications positioned him to enter large-scale industrial operations at firms such as BP plc and to collaborate with technology centres like the European Commission research initiatives and industry consortia.

Career

Conn's professional trajectory moved from technical roles into commercial and strategic leadership across energy, infrastructure, and industrial services. Early postings included operations and project management at multinational energy firms, followed by strategy and mergers activity engaging with corporate finance institutions such as Goldman Sachs advisers and transaction teams. He progressed to executive responsibilities that required interaction with government departments and regulators including the Department of Energy and Climate Change and the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets. Conn's career encompassed cross-border assignments linking the United Kingdom, continental Europe, and Asia, involving partnerships with entities like Royal Dutch Shell, ExxonMobil, and regional utilities.

British Petroleum (BP) tenure

Conn joined BP plc in the mid-1980s and over a multi-decade tenure held senior roles spanning refining, marketing, trading, and corporate development. He served as head of fuels and as a member of executive committees interacting with global downstream operations, negotiating with counterparties including TotalEnergies, Chevron Corporation, and national oil companies. His responsibilities covered refinery optimisation, retail networks, and strategic divestments aligned with financial institutions such as Barclays and HSBC. During his BP career Conn was involved in responses to sector-defining events and regulatory scrutiny from bodies like the Health and Safety Executive and collaborated with industry bodies including the International Energy Agency and the World Petroleum Council.

National Grid and later executive roles

In 2013 Conn was appointed to senior management at National Grid plc, assuming the role of Chief Executive in 2015. At National Grid he oversaw transmission and distribution assets across the United Kingdom and the Northeast United States, steering investment programmes in electricity networks, gas transmission, and interconnectors. His tenure covered interactions with market operators such as National Grid ESO, European transmission system operators, and infrastructure investors including Macquarie Group and SSgA. Conn navigated the company through policy shifts related to decarbonisation advocated by institutions like the Committee on Climate Change and engaged with finance ministers, central banks, and rating agencies including Moody's and Standard & Poor's. After stepping down as CEO, he took on senior advisory and leadership positions across infrastructure and energy firms, linking with firms such as Equinor and Ørsted.

Board memberships and non-executive positions

Conn has held numerous board and non-executive roles with public companies, private equity-backed firms, and trade organisations. Appointments included directorships that required governance oversight of audit committees, risk frameworks, and remuneration structures in firms connected to FTSE 100 constituents, pension trustees such as the Pensions Regulator environment, and industry associations including Energy UK. He participated in advisory boards alongside executives from National Grid ESO, financial institutions like BlackRock, and engineering groups such as Siemens. His non-executive positions extended to academic and research bodies, creating links with the Royal Academy of Engineering and university energy centres.

Honours and recognition

Conn has been recognised within the corporate and engineering communities for contributions to infrastructure and industry leadership. He received awards and fellowships from professional bodies including the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and acknowledgements from business publications that track chief executive performance among FTSE 100 companies. His work on network investment, corporate governance, and operational resilience has been cited by policy forums including parliamentary committees and energy think tanks.

Personal life and philanthropy

Conn is privately married and involved in philanthropic activities focused on education, skills, and STEM outreach. His charitable interests align with organisations promoting technical apprenticeships and research funding at institutions such as the University of Manchester and the Royal Society. He has supported initiatives that connect industry, academia, and public sector bodies to advance workforce development and infrastructure resilience.

Category:British business executives Category:Alumni of the University of Manchester