One of Britain’s few female chief executives is stepping down after 12 years at the head of UK energy firm Drax, owner of Ipswich-based business energy supplier Haven Power.

The FTSE 250 company confirmed that Dorothy Thompson - who was appointed in 2005 - has decided to leave the company by year-end and will be replaced by chief financial officer Will Gardiner from January 1.

It ends the tenure of one of Britain’s few female company heads, particularly in the energy industry.

There are only 10 female chief executive officers across the FTSE 250, according to 2017 data from the Professional Boards Forum’s BoardWatch.

There are six female chiefs in the FTSE 100.

Drax Group generates around 7% of the UK’s electricity and owns a coal and biomass-fired power plant in Selby, North Yorkshire.