Having worked in the Utility Industry for over 20 years, Michael brings a wealth of industry knowledge to the company.

He joined Northern Electric in 1984 and held a series of progressively more senior positions in the company. When the Electricity Industry began to open to competition in 1990, Michael was appointed to the position of Senior Contract Negotiator for the newly formed Contract Sales Division of Northern Electric's supply division. He was responsible for negotiating the supply contracts for some of the country's largest energy users including Northumbria Water, Carlsburg Tetley Breweries, De Vere Hotel Group and Lloyds Bank.

As the threshold for customers entering the competitive market was lowered to include smaller users, Michael took responsibility for all Commercial and Industrial customers in the Northern Electric Franchise area, and later set up and managed the section dealing with Energy Consultants and Brokers.

His last role with Northern Electric prior to the company being purchased by npower was that of Commercial Development Manager, where he was responsible for overseeing all Supply Contract Terms and Conditions, negotiating and managing the contracts between Northern Electric and their Meter Operator, Data Collector and Data Aggregator providers, overseeing all Distribution Use of System Contracts with other PES's and was the Northern Electric nominated representative to MARASCO and Ofgem.

When Northern Electric was acquired by npower, Michael was seconded to assist with the recently acquired Independent Energy portfolio, and a year later, took up the post as National Sales Manager for the SME division of npower.

Whilst there are undoubted benefits of privatisation in terms of reduced prices, there has also been a marked deterioration in terms of customer service and a great deal of confusion and frustration caused for customers. Seeing an opportunity to bring his wide range of industry knowledge, skills and contacts to bare to assist customers in all aspects related to the utility market, Michael left npower in 2004 to set up Square One Enterprises.

Michael is 39 years old, and enjoys playing and watching football, and says playing is getting progressing more painful as time goes by, but playing is never as painful as watching if you are a life long Sunderland supporter!