Angela Knight moves from bank to energy champion

The staunchest defender of the UK's banking industry is set to protect another much-maligned sector, as Angela Knight was named chief executive of Energy UK this weekend.

Ms Knight has headed the British Bankers' Association for five years and even took the Financial Services Authority to court over how banks should compensate victims of mis-selling payment protection insurance.

When the former Conservative MP steps down in July, she will take over the trade association for the energy sector, which has 70 members and was formed only last month. Ms Knight takes on the role when energy providers, particularly the "big six", have rarely been more criticised for high fuel bills.

She said: " Like financial services, energy plays a vital role in the social and economic fabric of our society, and we need new and established companies in the sector to thrive and prosper."

Ms Knight will face a tough task delivering on her promise to "work with the industry to improve its reputation". On Friday, Centrica, which owns British Gas, angered cash-strapped customers when it warned that the trend for energy bills "remained up".

On Wednesday, SSE, one of British Gas's big-six rivals, will announce a 6 per cent dividend increase, despite being fined £1.25m this month for mis-selling home energy contracts.