Lisa Cooke has been appointed Managing Director of MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme), the body announced on 7 July 2026, succeeding Ian Rippin, who is standing down as chief executive after more than eight years in the role1.
Cooke, currently MCS Chief Operating Officer, joined MCS shortly after Rippin in 2018 and has led the redevelopment of the MCS installer Scheme, which the organisation says is now being rolled out to thousands of businesses1. She will formally take up the role on 1 August, supported by Rippin in a handover and transition period until the end of 2026, when he leaves MCS in a full-time capacity1. After that, Rippin will continue to support the wider MCS Group in a part-time consultancy role1.
Rippin was MCS's first chief executive, appointed following its separation from Government in 20181. MCS states that under his leadership annual certified installations increased by more than 500%, with nearly 6,000 MCS certified businesses now delivering installations across the UK1. The organisation describes itself as the UK's quality mark for small-scale renewable energy systems such as solar panels and heat pumps1.
Cooke said 2026 is already tracking to be the sixth consecutive record-breaking year for certified installations1.
"But we know that confidence in home-grown energy is vital to this continued growth, and that's why we've redeveloped our installer Scheme to put consumer protection at its heart."
Cooke will be supported by MCS Group CEO Dr Garry Felgate, who joined in April 2025 to provide leadership to both MCS and The MCS Foundation, and she will also join The MCS Foundation's Senior Leadership Team1. Karen Shearer, Chair of the MCS Board of Directors, said Cooke has played a vital role in MCS's growth and success for many years1.
Why it matters for households
MCS certification is the route by which small-scale renewable installations, including solar panels and heat pumps, are recognised under UK standards, and it underpins access to some government support schemes. The body's own framing of its role has shifted towards consumer protection: Cooke says the redeveloped installer Scheme puts consumer protection at its heart1. For a household considering installers and retailers, the practical relevance of the change of leadership lies in how that redeveloped scheme is rolled out and enforced, and in whether the certification mark continues to function as a check on installation quality. The regulation and policy environment around small-scale renewables, including the standards that certified businesses must meet, is set out separately from MCS's own governance. MCS reports record growth in certified installations, but the announcement does not set out any change to certification requirements, fees or consumer protections arising from the appointment.
What happens next
Cooke takes up the Managing Director role on 1 August 20261. Rippin remains in a handover and transition period until the end of 2026, then continues with the wider MCS Group in a part-time consultancy role1. Cooke will shape and deliver MCS's next long-term strategy, according to the announcement1. No further detail on that strategy, or on the timetable for the redeveloped installer Scheme's rollout, has been reported1.