The National Grid has announced the appointment of Zoë Yujnovich, a former executive at Shell, as the new chief executive officer, taking over from John Pettigrew who is stepping down after nearly ten years in the role.

Yujnovich, aged 50 and holding dual citizenship in Britain and Australia, is set to assume her duties in November, succeeding Pettigrew, who has been with the company since joining as a graduate in 1991 and became CEO in April 2016.

This historic appointment positions National Grid among only two FTSE 100 firms with both a female chair and CEO, along with Severn Trent. Yujnovich joins a group of ten female leaders at the head of FTSE 100 companies.

Before her new role, Yujnovich served as an executive director for Shell’s integrated gas and upstream sectors, stepping down in March after more than a decade with the oil giant. She is currently working as an adviser for Shell until the end of August.

With a market valuation exceeding £52 billion, National Grid operates electricity networks and subsea interconnectors within the UK, in addition to gas and electricity services in the United States. The company reported an underlying pre-tax profit of £3.05 billion for the year ending March 2024.

During his tenure, Pettigrew shifted the strategic focus of National Grid from gas networks in the UK, including divesting pipeline operations, to enhancing electricity networks, particularly following the acquisition of Western Power Distribution.

Paula Reynolds, chairwoman of National Grid, expressed her belief that Pettigrew would be remembered for recognizing the essential role of electricity as a major energy source for society.

Pettigrew remarked on his tenure, stating he has “loved every moment” at National Grid and claimed he has not contemplated his next moves.

When asked about a potential future as a non-executive leader, such as the chair position at BP, Pettigrew emphasized his focus on ensuring a smooth transition with Yujnovich.

Before joining Shell, Yujnovich held a senior position at Rio Tinto, where her name had been mentioned as a potential CEO candidate following the departure of Jean-Sébastien Jacques in 2020. Her exit from Shell was made public earlier this March.

Reynolds praised Yujnovich as an outstanding and capable leader with a strong sense of purpose, highlighting her compatibility with the vision-driven leadership of the company. She noted that Yujnovich has proven experience in managing significant capital projects within budget and on schedule.

Reynolds also mentioned that Yujnovich’s capital expenditure responsibilities at Shell were similar to those she will encounter at National Grid. She characterized Yujnovich as having an international perspective but clarified that this does not indicate a strategic pivot for the company. Instead, it highlights her expertise in navigating complex international political and regulatory landscapes.