SSE and Innogy have appointed Katie Bickerstaffe as chief executive designate of the energy supply and services company they have agreed to form by merging SSE’s retail division with nPower.

Ms Bickerstaffe is currently chief executive of the UK and Ireland business of Dixons Carphone, and holds a non-executive position at SSE, which she will relinquish.

The new company is expected to be established in late 2018 or early 2019, depending on regulatory approval.