Bill Coley, new British Energy Chief Executive

Adrian Montague, Chairman of British Energy, said: "We would like to record our appreciation to Mike Alexander for seeing the company through our complex and difficult restructuring. Now that he has re-listed the company and laid the groundwork for the operational and cultural rebuilding of British Energy, he has decided to seek a new challenge elsewhere. We are fortunate that Bill Coley has taken on this challenge as he has outstanding qualities for the job."

Bill Coley was appointed as a non-executive director in June 2003 and is Chairman of the company's Nuclear Performance Review Committee. He was previously Group President of Duke Power, a power generation, transmission and distribution division of the major US utility where he had a 37-year career. Bill Coley, who is an electrical engineer, held a range of engineering and operating positions in Duke, before becoming Senior Vice President, Power Delivery in 1988. He is also a non-executive director of Peabody Energy and CT Communications Inc (both publicly traded companies).

Gravatom opens Cumbrian factory
A new factory has been opened by Gravatom Engineering Systems Ltd in Workington, West Cumbria. The high specification factory will be used for design development and assembly of complete systems for the nuclear industry.

Named the 'John Dalton Building', the 20,000 square feet unit was part funded by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), secured with support from the West Cumbrian Development Agency (WCDA).

Dave Barker, Managing Director of Gravatom, said "The John Dalton Building will enable Gravatom to serve its existing customers in the North of England more effectively and create new business in the region in all our market sectors."