London, England, United Kingdom, January 2026 – OVO Energy has appointed Tom Whittle as Chief People Officer, strengthening its leadership team as the company accelerates its Plan Zero sustainability mission. In this role, Tom will lead OVO’s people strategy, organisational transformation, workforce planning, HR operations and digital HR agenda, supporting the company’s commitment to building a fair, green and future-ready energy workforce.
Tom Whittle joins OVO after nearly a decade at HSBC, where he most recently served as MD, COO – People Governance & Communications. In this enterprise role, he was a member of HSBC’s Global HR Executive Committee, directly leading large-scale global HR operations, digital HR transformation, workforce planning, payroll consolidation and emerging technology initiatives, while managing substantial HR service operations and transformation portfolios.
Prior to this, Tom served as MD, Global Head of HR – Finance & HR, where he partnered closely with HSBC’s Group CFO and CHRO, delivering people strategy, HR services and organisation design across major finance and HR functions supporting more than 11,000 employees globally.
Earlier, he held leadership roles including MD, Global Head of HR – Wholesale COO and MD, Head of People Strategy & Transformation – Global CMB & GBM, where he led global organisational design, talent strategy, workforce transformation and large-scale HR operating model initiatives across banking divisions with thousands of employees worldwide.
Before HSBC, Tom built his career at Deloitte, progressing from Analyst to Senior Manager, delivering HR strategy, operating model transformation and shared services implementations for global clients across financial services, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals and logistics.
OVO Energy, founded in 2009, is one of the UK’s leading energy companies, committed to making energy fair, effortless and green. Through its Plan Zero sustainability strategy, OVO is driving the transition to net-zero carbon living by 2035 while supporting customers to reduce household emissions. The company also advances climate education and action through the OVO Foundation, investing in future generations across the UK.
Read Also : When HR “Produces Nothing”: A Response to Jennifer Sey’s Anti-HR Vision
The Fine Balance: Navigating Work, Life, and Mental Wellbeing
Mind the Leadership Gap – From Learning to Real-World Impact
How the Adecco Group is empowering its employees for the future of work
