EDF announces leadership changes in its UK nuclear businesses
EDF has named Mark Hartley as the next Chief Executive Officer of the Hinkley Point C nuclear project from 1 July. His appointment comes as current CEO Stuart Crooks steps down from the role after 40 years of service in the nuclear industry.
Mark, who is currently Managing Director of EDF’s Nuclear Operations, is returning to Hinkley Point C where he was Technical Director for five years until 2023. He holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Bath University and has deep expertise in the nuclear industry.
His position in 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 Region 1.
Stuart 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 (SMRs) project in Nottinghamshire. He has worked in the nuclear industry for 40 years. In 2018 he was awarded the Chevalier de L’Ordre National du Mérite and in 2019 he was awarded a CBE for services to nuclear.
EDF CEO 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 Point C and enabled the start of Sizewell C, which will benefit from everything learned at Hinkley Point C. His contribution to the nuclear renaissance is profound and I am pleased that he will continue to offer his expertise in a non-executive capacity.
Hinkley Point C is a twin reactor nuclear power station in Somerset that will provide reliable, low carbon electricity for Britain for decades to come. EDF’s Nuclear Operations runs Britain’s operational nuclear power stations at Sizewell B, Heysham, Torness and Hartlepool and is responsible for defueling Hinkley Point B, Hunterston and Dungeness.
Dr Mark Hartley
Dr Mark Hartley was appointed Managing Director for EDF’s Nuclear Operations business in April 2023, with responsibility for managing the UK’s existing eight nuclear power stations. Mark joined the industry in 1997 and held several executive positions in the UK Nuclear Operations business before joining Hinkley Point C as Technical Director. In December 2022 Mark was appointed interim Managing Director of Sizewell C to provide executive leadership to the project and take an integrated approach to the delivery of the EPR programme in the UK before becoming Managing Director of Nuclear Operations. He holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Bath University.
Stuart Crooks
Stuart joined Hinkley Point C as Managing Director in 2017 and became CEO in 2025. He joined the nuclear industry in 1986 as a control and instrumentation engineer at Heysham 2 nuclear power station in Lancashire, after beginning his working life as an electrical apprentice in 1981. He progressed through technical and engineering roles at Dungeness, Hartlepool, and Heysham. After five years as Chief Technical Officer, he became Managing Director of EDF’s Nuclear Generation business. Stuart is a strong advocate for skills, diversity, and inclusion, championing apprenticeships, women in nuclear and working parents across the sector. In 2018 he was awarded the Chevalier de L’Ordre National du Mérite and in 2019 he was awarded a CBE for services to nuclear.
John Munro
In 2023 John Munro took up his new role as the Director of Nuclear Operations having previously been the Chief Nuclear Officer. John joined Scottish Nuclear at Torness Power Station in 1992 as an Electrical Engineer. Since then, he has held key leadership roles including being appointed Station Director at Heysham 2 in August 2015.
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