Vicky Read has stepped down as CEO of ChargeUK, with Shane Brennan taking over the role in August.

She has spent the past two years as CEO of the trade association, having joined in 2023 as vice chair of policy.

Ms Read brought 24 years of experience in policy and public affairs management, with previous roles including public policy advisor at Discovery Inc., head of government affairs at Bebo, and head of policy and public affairs at CityFibre.

While leaving her current role, Ms Read stated that she will continue to support Charge UK as a board advisor during the CEO transition.

Announcing her departure on LinkedIn, Ms Read said: ‘Leading ChargeUK has been the privilege of my career. 

‘During the pandemic, I decided to focus my efforts on what I saw as the defining policy challenge of our time: decarbonising our economy. I was fortunate to join an industry full of people determined not just to make a difference, but to build something new together.'

Mr Brennan comes to ChargeUK from the Global Cold Chain Alliance, where he has held a global policy role for the past three years, having previously led the Cold Chain Federation in the UK as chief executive.

He brings over 20 years of experience in associations across retail, rural business, logistics and energy.

Iain Coucher, chair of ChargeUK, commented: ‘Shane's extensive experience leading trade organisations in complex industries that share challenges with the charging sector, implementing strategic change and achieving significant growth, stood out as directly suited to lead ChargeUK into its next phase.

‘His record shaping policy with evidence-led advocacy chimes with the organisation's well-established position as a trusted voice for the charging sector.'

Mr Brennan said: ‘ChargeUK is young, fast-moving, impactful, and our members are delivering on one of the UK's most important infrastructure challenges. The foundations Vicky and the team have built are genuinely impressive — strong policy access, a growing membership, and a mission the sector believes in. My job is to build on that.

‘The policy and regulatory decisions being made in the next three to five years will determine the success of the UK's transport transition — a transition the charging sector is a vital part of, and ChargeUK will ensure its voice is heard.'