Steve Holliday
Steven Holliday | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 26, 1956 Exeter, England |
| Occupation(s) | Engineer, business executive |
| Years active | 1978–2016 (at National Grid) |
| Known for | CEO of National Grid (2007–2016) |
Steven John Holliday (born 26 October 1956) is a British engineer and business executive, most notably recognized for his tenure as CEO of the UK utility firm National Grid from 2007 until 2016. His career began with a 19-year period at Exxon (1978–1997), where he developed substantial expertise in the oil and gas sector. He then joined British Borneo Oil and Gas as a director in 1998. In 2001, Holliday became a board member at National Grid, ascending to the CEO role in 2007 and maintaining that position until 2016.
Early life and education
Holliday was born in Exeter to parents Michael and Jean Holliday. He completed his secondary education at Okehampton College in Devon and later earned a bachelor's degree in Mining Engineering from the University of Nottingham in 1978.
Exxon
Starting his professional journey with Exxon in 1978, Holliday spent nearly two decades engaged in multiple facets of oil and gas operations. By the age of 30, he had advanced to operations manager at the Fawley Refinery located near Southampton, UK.
British Borneo Oil and Gas
Following the merger of British Borneo with Hardy Oil and Gas in 1998, Holliday was named international director, a role he fulfilled for three years.
National Grid
Holliday became a board director at National Grid Group in March 2001, overseeing operations across the UK and Europe. After the October 2002 integration with Lattice Group plc, he managed the Group’s electricity and gas transmission divisions. In 2003, he was elevated to group director responsible for UK Gas Distribution and Business Services, also taking on the role of chief executive of Transco. He assumed the CEO position at National Grid plc in January 2007. In 2009, his total remuneration amounted to £2.2 million, which included a £929,000 salary alongside a £1.28 million bonus. By 2016, Holliday described conventional baseload power generation models as "obsolete," predicting that microgrids would emerge as the dominant production method, with large-scale plants serving as backup. In November 2015, National Grid announced that Holliday would resign as CEO by March 2016, with John Pettigrew—who had been with the company for 25 years—named as his successor. Holliday officially left the company in July 2016.
Magnox Inquiry
In March 2017, Greg Clark, then UK Secretary of State for Energy, commissioned an independent Inquiry into the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority’s (NDA) procurement process related to nuclear decommissioning contracts awarded in 2012. The investigation focused on understanding why the contract granted to Cavendish Fluor Partnership in 2014 became unsustainable. Holliday was appointed to lead this Inquiry, which involved a thorough examination from initial procurement through contract termination, assessing actions by both the NDA and government departments, culminating in recommendations. Preliminary findings were released in October 2017.
Directorships
In 2004, Holliday was appointed as a non-executive director on the board of Marks and Spencer Group.
Awards and recognition
The University of Strathclyde conferred an honorary degree upon Holliday in 2013 in acknowledgment of his impact on the energy and power industries. His profile appeared in Who's Who 2009 as Chief Executive of National Grid since 2007, emphasizing his extensive background at Esso/Exxon along with leadership roles within energy infrastructure companies. Additionally, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2010.
Personal life
In 1996, Holliday wed Katharine Patterson in Enfield. The couple resided in West London and had two children together. Their marriage ended in divorce in 2024.
External links
- Pagnamenta, Robin. "Laying the Foundations for an Industrial Revolution at National Grid." The Times (London), December 22, 2008.
- "Business Profile: I appreciate having seven regulators." The Daily Telegraph (London), January 7, 2007.