Kevin McCullough, Chief Operating Officer of RWE npower, chats to Channel 4 about how he kickstarted his career and the challenges of going undercover
What does your job entail?
At the start of the year, I was appointed Chief Operating Officer. This means I look after not only our power stations, which can generate up to 15% of the UK's power, but also all contact with domestic customers through to large high street businesses. I also lead on Health, Safety & Environment on behalf of the Board as well as functional tasks like procurement. I can safely say that no two days are the same.
What career path did you take to get to where you are today?
I've worked for the same organisation all of my adult life. I left 6th form college needing a job pretty badly for lots of reasons. It all started at the local power station Ferrybridge B near Pontefract (now long since demolished) back in December of 1984 and I remember it like it was just yesterday. My role held the dizzy title of 'Auxiliary Plant Attendant', which meant I was a guy with a shovel moving coal and ash from A to B. This was when the whole industry was still nationalised as the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB), so you could say that I started at the very bottom. I loved it and still do.
From those early days, I wanted nothing more than to become a power station manager and finally achieved that goal out in Texas, where I helped set up and build the Midlothian Energy Facility. Since then I've been a bit of a career nomad within the broader energy sector, holding a wide range of jobs throughout the company.
What made you decide to go undercover?
I have no idea - a moment of weakness! Seriously though, I've been with this company my entire working life, gaining my degree and professional qualifications en-route. To put it simply, it's given me everything, which is why I feel so passionate about it going forward. I consider myself very privileged by becoming Chief Operating Officer and most days I still pinch myself. I know through first hand experience that we've got some amazing staff, but equally I know that we don't always get everything right. Being approached by Channel 4 presented a unique opportunity to go undercover and really reacquaint myself first hand about what life is now like at the sharp end of our business.
With concerns about global warming at an all-time high, what steps are npower taking to ensure a stable environmental future?
The short answer is one hell of a lot. Some facts include that we are leading the industry in decarbonising our power stations through a replacement and upgrade programme. This entails spending about £3 for every £1 we've made over the last few years. This investment means that we are soon to have the most efficient power station fleet in the UK. There's a lot more to it than that, of course, and if you're interested, our CR Report shows you what we're doing and why.
What was the biggest challenge you were faced with whilst undercover?
The biggest challenge was remembering to be Tom rather than Kevin. I can honestly say I can never recall doing anything as nerve racking as this over such a sustained period; it was not easy and it's not for the faint hearted. Once you decide to do it, there's no turning back and you have to see it through - wherever that experience takes you. Keeping up the pretence is intense and living the deceit for someone like me is tough, especially when my close friends know me as 'Kev the Confessor'. I just hope that the good folk at npower will forgive me the deceit, as I did it for the right reasons.
What advice would you give to potential managers and the bosses of the future?
There is one particular piece of advice that I've used time and time again, and for me it applies to just about anyone - irrespective of religious belief, political standing or social status - and that is; 'life is short and you're a long time dead'. It sounds stark, but what I actually mean is you have to believe in what you do and you have to enjoy it. If future bosses genuinely care about their business then my advice would be to take a deep breath and dive in. if nothing else you'll get to meet amazing people doing amazing things in your business!
