Epitomising the agile leadership that is synonymous with disruptive businesses, Zoisa leads both the generation the business retail arm of Octopus Energy. Greg's vision of using technology to disrupt the energy market has enabled Octopus Energy to create tariffs which unlock the power of the green grid - offering cheaper electricity when the sun is shining and the wind is blowing. Following an IPO and acquisition by Oracle Utilities she moved to London with her family in 2018 before coming to Octopus Energy Group to lead global sales for Kraken Technologies. For those that don't know Octopus Energy, they are UK's fastest growing green energy retailer and are currently valued at $2 billion. Octopus Energy Group operates a wide range of business divisions, including Octopus Energy Retail, Octopus Energy for Business, Octopus Energy Services, Octopus Electric Vehicles, Octopus Energy Generation, Octopus Hydrogen, Kraken, Kraken Flex and the not-for-profit Centre for Net Zero. We took the 15 years it usually takes to make a vaccine, and did it in less than a year. It was at that point she founded Octopus Electric Vehicles, and since then has been building a team of experts passionate about helping consumers and businesses make that transition to electric vehicles. And I'll let you know if we want your ads. Greg Jackson is the founder and CEO of Octopus Energy Group, the energy technology group with 3.5 million customers globally, operations in 14 countries and a 4.4bn portfolio of renewable energy assets. The green energy firms founder on his sympathy for those struggling with bills and his exasperation at net zero opponents. [20], In November 2020 Octopus acquired Manchester-based smart grid energy software company Upside Energy, which in June 2021 rebranded as KrakenFlex. He also holds an MBA from Yale University and is an independent non-executive director of the Thames Estuary Growth Board, where he co-chairs the hydrogen committee, and a Member of the Yale University Alumni Association Board of Governors. Support 100 years of independent journalism. Currently, Octopus Energy has more than 750,000 customers with 100 per cent renewable electricity, despite only setting up three years ago. [43], In its early years the company did not generate gas or electricity, instead making purchases on the wholesale markets. [55], Octopus Renewables is contracted as the investment manager for Octopus Renewables Infrastructure Trust, an investment trust established in 2019 which owns wind and solar generation in the UK, Europe and Australia. Day-to-day, she works closely with regulators, industry bodies and policy makers to shape the energy system of the future. He spends around an hour each day dealing directly with customers to understand that experience better, along with discussing trade-offs such as pricing strategy and infrastructure. In 1992, after graduating from Rio Grande High School, Jackson founded his own martial art, Gaidojutsu, which combines rudimentary techniques from catch wrestling and Muay Thai with basic judo locks. The boss of Octopus Energy has a small tub, which pleases him as it is efficient and fills quickly. This interview was originally published on our sister platform, ChangeinAfrica Magazine, the content is wholly owned by Innoglo Ltd. Mon - Fri: Respond with 24 hrs [16][17], In January 2020, ENGIE UK announced that it was selling its residential energy supply business (comprising around 70,000 UK residential customers) to Octopus. Jackson has trained many successful fighters, including former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones, former UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St-Pierre, former UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion Holly Holm, former Light Heavyweight Champion Rashad Evans, and a roster of other UFC contenders and World Extr We'll monitor any new channels (including this) before running ads and will only advertise if balanced and meets our policies", "As per my message, we didn't boycott - I wanted to see the channel and am true to my word", "GB News hails boycott victory - Full list of advertisers BACKING Andrew Neil's channel", "Octopus Energy's Greg Jackson: 'Climate change is no longer this vague thing', Timeline of the electricity supply industry, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Minister of State for Business, Energy and Clean Growth, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Act 2006, Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology, Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research, Association for the Conservation of Energy, Double Glazing & Conservatory Ombudsman Scheme, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Octopus_Energy&oldid=1128995384, Electric power companies of the United Kingdom, Renewable resource companies established in 2015, Renewable energy companies of the United Kingdom, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2021, Articles containing potentially dated statements from September 2021, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Greg Jackson (CEO), Stuart Jackson (CFO), James Eddison (CTO), Zoisa North-Bond (CEO, Octopus Generation), Rebecca Dibb-Simkin (CMO), Peter Miller (Customer Experience) Fiona Howarth (CEO, Octopus Electric Vehicles), This page was last edited on 23 December 2022, at 02:23. There, Rebecca was Head of Marketing for Dyno Rod, and Head of Product for Hive 2 Thermostats, one of the most sought-after energy products of its time. To be the first to hear about our events, get immediate access to new podcast episodes, and hear news picked just for you Join our community! Our weekly culture newsletter from books and art to pop culture and memes sent every Friday. KrakenFlex is currently contracted to manage over 1,600 MW of power with further 2 GWs of renewable generation to come online through 2022. Driving full energy system change, the Group consists of 10 businesses across the energy value chain, operating in 8 countries globally and supporting 3.2 million customers in the UK. The mop-topped energy boss, dressed in grey T-shirt and jeans, has become the acceptable face of a pariah industry. [36], In September 2021, Generation Investment Management, co-founded and chaired by Al Gore, purchased a 13% stake in Octopus Energy Group in a deal worth $600m. Greg Jackson founded Octopus Energy in 2015 with a view to using technology to make the green energy revolution faster and cheaper for consumers. These include: In March 2019, Octopus announced it had partnered with Amazon's Alexa virtual assistant, to optimise home energy use through the Agile Octopus time-of-use tariff. Rachels remit is to create the regulations and markets needed to achieve net zero quickly and affordably. Jackson reaffirmed that Octopus had not boycotted the channel. Fellow green energy group Bulb went bust last November and remains in special administration. Greg: No country is off limits to Octopus Energy, we aim to bring cheaper, greener energy and world-class customer service to many people all over the world. People thought electric vehicles wouldnt take off but look at Tesla now. The current energy crisis emerged towards the end of the legal work and due diligence that is needed for such a deal to happen, and provided a dramatic test of the companys ability to handle a large, rapidly developing challenge: We had to demonstrate to the investors that taking on Avro wouldnt get in the way of the long-term mission.. Whos Here Mohamed Abubakar, his wife Rasha Al-Buriahi and their four children all sleep and eat in the same room. By expanding to so many other countries and really capitalising on the technology we create, we are able to have an edge on the competition. Spaces are limited for this very special event so make sure you dont miss out by signing up here. [73], Octopus was one of a number of brands who considered pulling their advertising from the channel, with others including IKEA, Vodafone, Nivea, Kopparberg, Grolsch, the Open University, OVO Energy and LV=. Having been in the industry for over 20 years, he has founded a number of businesses that he took to sale, including Affect Energy, which became part of the Octopus Energy Group in 2018. Recommended Provider accolade five years in a row. One department looks after Electric Juice, a service that lets customers add car-charging payments to their electricity bill. In 72 hours, the six-year-old company had swelled to accommodate more customers than Scottish Power (to 3.1 million in total) and a higher valuation (approaching $5bn) than Centrica, the owner of British Gas. A business leader is someone who doesnt look to make quick money, but really wants to change their industry for the better, do something different and lead from the front, rather than worry about what their competitors are doing. She spent some time consulting for a FTSE 100 energy company, followed by a secondment to the Department for the Energy & Climate Change (DECC), and then launching market-leading connected home products - starting at British start-up Alert Me, who became part of the leading smart home provider Hive, a British Gas innovation. Octopus Energy is one of the fastest growing energy firms to ever launch in Britain and is on track to join the Big Six utility providers. Specialties: Technology. What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs? Interview with Entrepreneur - Greg Jackson - CEO of Octopus Energy. He believes his thrifty upbringing allows him to empathise with struggling customers. A quick update on the week in companies, markets, finance and the world of work. [12][13], In both 2018 and 2019, Octopus was the only energy supplier to earn "Recommended Provider" status from the Which? Now his mission is to turn Britain on to renewables, despite the efforts of a small noisy group, including Nigel Farage, attacking net zero goals. In September 2021, Octopus Energy Group was valued at approximately $5 billion following a $600 million investment from Generation Investment Management and a $300 million investment from Canada Pensions Plan Investments Board. Since launching in 2018, Zoisa's team has accrued 40,000 customers, from SMEs to large organisations such as Arsenal FC. I also have had non-executive and chairman roles at peer-to-peer lender Zopa and Consultant Connect. After his parents split, his mother worked as a barmaid and later studied while on benefits. I think Im too opinionated. Building on the award winning end-to-end entech platform, Kraken Utilities will create customer centricity and automated, scalable and efficient operations for other traditionally low-tech sectors, allowing innovation at pace. In 2006, he sold a customer relationship tech business for 4.5m. survey and was one of three recommended providers. He won the Coach of the Year award in 2009, 2010 and 2011. Jackson declined to comment on it. Registered number: 09263424. [35] As a result of these acquisitions, Octopus now has retail, generation or technology licences in 13 countries across four continents. The engineering part only takes a year.. Or the F-word., Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, Octopus Energys Greg Jackson: Climate change is no longer this vague thing, Greg Jackson: We want a similar effort [on renewables] to the vaccine rollout.. Prior to that Stuart spent 6 years with Barclays Bank, including a stint running a 5bn credit card business and 10 years as a strategy consultant. Theyve been characterised as inexperienced and foolhardy for not hedging their energy far enough in advance. Jackson, 50, grew up near Middlesbrough. One business C360 that was subsequently acquired, was founded to pioneer a new way of using technology to drive marketing or as Greg puts it SaaS before it was trendy. Greg is also an investor in several tech start-ups and as an advisor, supports companies and entrepreneurs with fundraising, mergers, acquisitions and strategy. Plm was subsequently rebranded as Octopus Energy France. [47][48], In October 2020, Octopus partnered with Tesla Energy to power the Tesla Energy Plan, which is designed to power a home with 100% clean energy either from solar panels or Octopus. Greg Jackson is the founder and CEO of Octopus Energy Group, which currently has over 3.1 million UK customers. Our Founder, Hubert Nomamiukor organised a Q&A session with Greg Jackson, the CEO of Octopus Energy, to capture his entrepreneurial journey, influences and perspectives. For those that don't know Octopus Energy, they are UK's fastest growing green energy retailer and are currently valued at $2 billion. The New Statesmans global affairs newsletter, every Monday and Friday. [62][63] The Kraken software was also licensed to Australia's Origin Energy as part of their May 2020 agreement. He's founded a number of successful businesses, including e-commerce company C360, built HomeServe's innovation business and is an angel investor in a wide range of tech start-ups. Greg Jackson on Twitter: "Octopus Energy recent commitments: 10,000,000 to build a decarb of heat R&D centre 5,000,000 to establish the Centre for Net Zero 108,000 to its BLM fund 1,000 ad on a right wing channel So, 15,108x more on progressive stuff More soon, but hope perspective helps." / Twitter. Greg: Passionate young people who believe in our mission. [22], In February 2021, CEO Greg Jackson said on a BBC News interview that Octopus does not operate a human resources department. Before starting KrakenFlex, Devrims professional career saw him take up executive roles with blue chip management consultancies and finance companies such as Publicis Sapient, Kearney and Lansdowne. Greg Jackson isnt your average energy company CEO. A day later, Generation Investment Management, a fund chaired by Al Gore, committed to a $600m investment in Octopus. The UKs biggest energy companies might shrug off such strident criticism from a campaigner, but Octopus has rapidly ascended to challenge what Jackson, 50, calls the lazy oligopoly of the big six. I want them to feel happy and fulfilled by the work they do. We need to work like that now on the clean energy system., [See also: The power trap: Why the energy crisis is a crisis of politics], This article appears in the 13 Oct 2021 issue of the New Statesman, Perfect Storm. The company also supplies software services to other energy suppliers. Jackson grew up in a rough neighborhood, and began learning martial arts to defend himself. Greg Jackson was born in Washington D.C. to Kris and Jim Jackson, who were Quakers originally from the Midwest. Update your browser for a better web experience, here and all over the internet. [24], In July 2021 Octopus rose 12 places on the UK Customer Service Index to 17th, making it the only energy company in the Top 50. [37], In January 2022 Octopus Energy entered the French market with the acquisition of Plm nergie, a French energy start-up with 100,000 retail and corporate accounts. Devrim is the CEO of KrakenFlex, formerly Upside Energy, which joined the Octopus Energy Group in 2020 to add another layer of capabilities to Octopus's energy technology platform, 'Kraken'. Prior to Affect Energy, where John built up a strong reputation for good, local customer service in Sussex, he was Managing Director of Thermabead Ltd in Worcester. [53], In January 2022, it was announced that Octopus Renewables had bought the Broons/Biterne-Sud wind farm in Cotes dArmor, northeast Brittany, France from Energiequelle for an undisclosed price. Now we see this as a national security issue as well if thats not the final nail I dont know what to do.. Love building organisations around people, disrupting industries which underserve customers and society. KrakenFlexs cloud-based technology platform controls distributed energy assets such as large-scale batteries, EVs, or heat pumps with machine learning and AI to match electricity supply and demand, helping the electricity grid deal with the natural volatility of renewable generation. He began developing software (in the form of video games) at 16, then studied economics at Cambridge before running a mirror factory, then founding a number of technology-led businesses. [21], The same month saw Octopus launch the not-for-profit Octopus Centre for Net Zero (OCNZ), a research organisation tasked with creating models and policy recommendations for potential paths to a green energy future. Octopus is also unusual in that, as well as selling to consumers, it derives more than half its value from the technology it licenses to other businesses in the UK and around the world (a model reminiscent of Amazon). After his parents split, his mother worked as a barmaid and later studied while on benefits. Greg: While we cant change who our founders are, our leadership team is made up of 50% women, with BAME, LGBT+ and working class representation throughout. Im just gobsmacked anyones opposing this., Does being a flag-bearer for green energy get him in hot water at dinner parties? We speak to Greg Jackson, CEO of Octopus Energy Group, the technology-to-investment energy platform, about the importance of government intervention in energy policy, the role of technology, and how a greener future could be nearer than we think. Our last question before ending this interview is around environmentally sustainable businesses and their impact on climate change. Last holiday Cotswold Water Park, with family and friends. [29], In September 2019 Octopus acquired German start-up 4hundred for 15m; the acquisition of 4hundred, which had 11,000 customers, was Octopus' first overseas expansion. Were in a double crisis now: a cost crisis, and a carbon crisis. He also has a wealth of experience in energy efficiency and looks after Octopus energy efficiency schemes alongside metering, solar, heat pumps and EV chargers. How much of your upbringing, surroundings and environment influenced your entrepreneurial journey? The New Statesmans weekly environment email on the politics, business and culture of the climate and nature crises - in your inbox every Thursday. At Octopus he has responsibility for finance, procurement & market risk management, customer acquisition and data science. Our team is made up of climate enthusiasts who know that switching people to green energy and growing that customer base around the world is the number one thing we can do to turn the tide on climate change. [66] The campaign artwork was exhibited at over 5,000 sites, making it the largest ever digital out-of-home (DOOH) art exhibition. This long-term mission is not only to supply renewable energy all of Octopuss tariffs are advertised as 100 per cent green, and power either comes directly from renewable sources or is certified as renewable using the Rego certificates that Ofgem uses to match power sourced from the open market to renewable supply but to disrupt the UKs dysfunctional energy market. What inspired this leadership technique and what are the pros and cons of Octopus Energy not having a HR department? Greg Jackson is CEO/Founder at Octopus Energy Ltd. See Greg Jackson's compensation, career history, education, & memberships. We are doing the same thing in clean, green energy. [18] The same month saw the launch of London Power, a partnership with the Mayor of London. Octopuss other renewables ventures include a huge push to replace gas boilers with heat pumps, and investment in what will be the worlds longest subsea power cable, linking Devon to a vast solar farm in the Moroccan desert. Read more . 8 Dislike Share Save. Is it profit, value or something else? More recently in my work history Ive specialised in creating technology & ecommerce platforms, something me and Octopus Energy CTO James Eddison did together for clients such as Greene King and SAP. Octopus Energy is a green energy company and one of the leaders when it comes to environmentally sustainable practices. Could Octopus become another Bulb? On 26 September, it was announced that Octopus would be taking on the 580,000 former customers of Avro Energy, which had ceased trading the previous week. He has never taken a bonus, and owns a 6% stake, worth about 240m. The other key difference between Octopus and other utilities companies is technology. .more. [49], In January 2021, Octopus acquired two 73 metre (240') wind turbines to power their 'Fan Club' tariff, which offers households living near its turbines cheaper electricity prices when the wind is blowing strongly. [23], In March 2021 the Financial Times listed Octopus at number 23 on their list of the fastest growing companies in Europe. A weekly round-up of some of the best articles featured in the most recent issue of the New Statesman, sent each Saturday. On February 5, 2013, Jackson signed with Bellator to coach on the promotion's reality series titled Fight Master: Bellator MMA.[10]. Among the companies using Kraken is E.On, the second-largest electricity supplier in the UK. Tellingly, before the age of 30, he had owned and/or managed a number of small businesses employing 4-60 people and turning over 400k to 4m. We are also able to license out Kraken to other energy companies, allowing them to make use of the same efficiencies. Greg: Believe it or not, I dropped out of school at 16 to start creating video games before eventually going to Cambridge University. Greg: Success is different for everybody, and you need to be honest with yourself about what would make your job a success, is it happiness? Weve never made a profit and were going to, but weve ploughed everything were going to make into customer support so were not going to make one this year, he says. There was an unexpected issue while trying to process your request. Greg is an experienced digital entrepreneur, passionate about making the green energy revolution affordable through technology. Our CEO Greg explains why standing charges are higher on new energy tariffs, and why electricity standing charges have gone up more than gas ones. "The cost of generating a green electron is already today dramatically cheaper than generating a fossil fuel electron" In the latest Inside Octopus, flex-perts Alex and Devrim discuss the path to a cheaper, smarter energy model through flexibility. She is Chief Marketing and Product Officer at Octopus Energy. [15] In January 2021, Octopus was ranked second and was one of two recommended providers, becoming the only energy provider in the UK to have been named as a recommended provider four years running. John moved from managing Affect Energy to running Octopus' engineering fleet and developing the UK's first Heat Pump Research & Development Centre, along with the proposition to train over 1,000 heat pump engineers a year and produce 1,000 heat pumps a month through the new Octopus Energy factory in Northern Ireland. You can tell if someone grew up in a cold house: we often prefer baths when you get out of the shower you get a real shock, he says. [7] In 2007, Jackson teamed up with striking coach Mike Winkeljohn, which was a seminal moment for Jackson's academy; since then, the gym has been known as Jackson Wink MMA Academy (JW MMA Academy),[8] representing the partnership between Jackson and Winkeljohn. Britains failure to invest in renewables led us into the gas crisis, says Jackson, and a revolution in energy supply and policy is urgently needed. He now runs Octopus, the green energy supplier founded in. Since relocating to the UK 7 years ago, Jon worked on the set-up of Bulb and later Octopus Energy. We have a technology licensing business with big customers like E.ON and EDF, and weve invested in generation and a heat pump centre. Rachel joined Octopus Energy in 2021, bringing with her a wealth of knowledge following more than two decades of experience in energy regulation. [9], In 2018 Hanwha Energy Retail Australia (Nectr) chose the Kraken platform, developed by Octopus to provide billing, CRM and other technology services to support its launch into the Australian retail energy market. I learned a big chunk of what I know from a brilliant HR Director, Dennis Shuler at Procter & Gamble, who was a massive advocate of decentralisation and people centred management. Jackson came from a family of wrestlers (his father, brother, and uncle were all champions in the sport). John is a highly experienced energy entrepreneur. She has done this all while maintaining some of the very best customer service ratings in the industry. The first nail in the coffin should have been climate change, then it should have been the fact that renewables are now cheaper than fossil fuels. I read an article recently where you said Octopus Energy dont have a HR department. You can tell if someone grew up in a cold house: we often prefer baths when you get out of the shower you get a real shock, he says. What is the number one trait you look for in employees before recruiting them as part your team, and how has this requirement been integrated into the organisations culture and recruitment policy? Are people working at your company happy? Weve raised 16 times more investment than Bulb did. About Greg Jackson: Greg is an experienced digital entrepreneur, passionate about making the green energy revolution affordable through technology. Greg: Weve been rapidly growing and in December closed our second financing round with Tokyo Gas and Origin Energy in 2020, which increased our valuation to more than $2 billion.
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