Credit: Michael Taylor/CC BY-SA 4.0

Mayank Prakash, who is shortly to depart his role as chief digital and information officer at the Department for Work and Pensions, has announced he will be joining British Gas owner Centrica in a role heading up the digital transformation of the company’s consumer business.

Writing on Twitter last night, Prakash said he will take on a new post next year “leading the digitalisation of Centrica Consumer globally”.  

The energy giant’s consumer unit is split into four divisions, including UK Home – which encompasses the British Gas, Local Heroes, and Dyno trading brands – and Connected Home, which includes sales of Hive devices and associated services. Also part of Centrica Consumer is the North America Home division, which covers the Direct Energy brand that operates in the US and Canada, and an Irish arm that comprises Bord Gáis Energy.

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“Lots to learn from UK Home, Bord Gais, Connected Home and Direct Energy colleagues as we reimagine the future,” Prakash added.

The DWP digital leader announced in September that he is to depart the civil service around the end of 2018, after a four-year stint in government. Prakash arrived at the DWP in 2014 after two decades in the tech and financial services industries. 

London-listed Centrica has upwards of 25 million customers and more than 33,000 employees worldwide. In addition to the consumer unit that Prakash will be joining, the Windsor-headquartered company has a B2B arm including British Gas and Direct Energy, as well as the Neas Energy, Restore, and Centrica Business Solutions brands. In 2017 the firm posted worldwide turnover of £28bn.