A NEW boss has been announced by owners EDF for the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station project from July.

Mark Hartley will take over as chief executive on July 1 in place of Stuart Crooks, who is stepping down after 40 years in the nuclear industry.

Mr Hartley is currently managing director of EDF’s nuclear operations, which runs Britain’s operational nuclear power stations at Sizewell B, Heysham, Torness, and Hartlepool and is responsible for defueling Hunterston and Dungeness.

He will be returning to Hinkley C where he was technical director for five years until 2023.

Mr Hartley holds a PhD in mechanical engineering from Bath University and has deep expertise in the nuclear industry.

His position in EDF nuclear operations will be taken by John Munro, currently director of nuclear operations, having previously held senior leadership roles at Torness and Heysham 2, where he was station director, before becoming chief nuclear officer for EDF’s region one.

Mr Crooks will continue to be closely connected to the nuclear industry as a non-executive board member for Sizewell C and EDF’s nuclear operations business, and as an advisor to the Cottam small modular reactor project in Nottinghamshire.

EDF chief executive Simone Rossi said: “This carefully planned transition demonstrates the depth, resilience and maturity of our nuclear organisation and our ability to develop world class nuclear leadership.

“It will enable us to deliver our ambitious nuclear plans in Britain at our existing power stations and in nuclear new build.

“I want to thank Stuart for his outstanding service to the UK industry.

“He has driven the replication strategy that has seen significant performance improvements in the second unit at Hinkley C and enabled the start of Sizewell C, which will benefit from everything learned at Hinkley C.”

The two Hinkley C reactors will provide low-carbon electricity for Britain for decades to come.