Such is his aversion to interviews we don't know much about the outgoing SSE chief executive at all.

But the words of the wise Ms Loveless – "it's what you don't do" – perhaps best sum up his success.

Of course there have been concrete achievements.

Over the past decade SSE's customer numbers rose from four million to ten million. It has expanded into Ireland. And it has built a leading position in renewable energy generation.

But more importantly, Mr Marchant avoided many of the hurdles which hobbled rivals.

Rival ScottishPower became entangled in US power generation and in telecoms and water at home. The weakened company was eventually picked off by Spanish giant Iberdrola.

SSE remained essentially a power company. As one industry source said: "[Mr Marchant] has done very well. SSE is still independent. It was not tempted down the multi-utility route."

There have been mistakes. The tunnel collapse at SSE's £140 million Glendoe hydro scheme was embarrassing.

And staff at rivals raised eyebrows at a recent SSE energy offer that appears to widen the gap between highest and lowest rates when the Government is urging a single tariff.

But Mr Marchant got all the big calls right.

Someone should buy his successor Alistair Phillips-Davies a Patty Loveless CD.