Britain’s fourth-biggest household energy supplier has poached a senior executive from Monzo, the digital bank, as it explores options that could lead to a change of ownership.

Sky News understands that OVO has recruited James Davies, who has worked for companies including William Hill and Purplebricks, the online estate agent, to become its new chief financial officer.

Mr Davies’s appointment was announced to OVO staff on Thursday, according to an insider.

It marks the latest phase of a leadership shake-up at the company, which has seen former J Sainsbury boss Justin King take over as chairman and former Just Eat chief executive David Buttress become its CEO.

Vincent Casey, Mr Davies’s predecessor, will become an advisor to OVO Group’s board.

OVO and some of its shareholders kicked off a strategic review in the summer to consider options for the company.

It has about four million household customers, positioning it behind the likes of British Gas owner Centrica and Octopus Energy.

In recent months it has diversified its offer to customers by launching an electric vehicle product called Charge Anytime and the acquisition of an on-street vehicle charging business called BonnetA.

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OVO was launched by Stephen Fitzpatrick 15 years ago in a bid to challenge the industry’s dominant players, and has attracted investment from blue-chip backers such as Japan’s Mitsubishi.

Key to OVO’s valuation will be the growth of its technology platform, Kaluza, which was set up to license its software to other energy suppliers, and provides customers with smart electric vehicle charging and heat pumps.

OVO announced this year that AGL Energy, one of Australia’s biggest energy suppliers, had bought a 20% stake in Kaluza at a $500m valuation.

The company declined to comment.

The owner of Wagamama has begun exploring a £300m refinancing as it seeks to reduce its borrowing costs by locking in lower interest rates.

Sky News has learnt that The Restaurant Group (TRG), which delisted from the London Stock Exchange last year after being bought by Apollo Global Management, is in talks with banks about securing new debt terms.

Sources said the move was a reflection of the company’s robust performance since it was taken private.

As well as Wagamama, which has become one of Britain’s biggest casual dining chains, TRG owns Brunning & Price, a group of pubs.

It sold a collection of other restaurant assets to Big Table, another operator, shortly before Apollo bid for the company.

TRG is run by Andy Hornby, the former Gala Coral, Boots and HBOS chief.

Its sale followed a protracted activist campaign against TRG’s board.

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At the time of Apollo’s bid, PizzaExpress also examined whether to make an offer but decided against doing so, citing “market conditions”.

This week, Sky News revealed that PizzaExpress was hiring bankers at PJT Partners to advise on a refinancing.

TRG declined to comment.

Mothercare is closing on a £30m deal with one of India’s biggest retail groups that will provide the London-listed company with a long-awaited solution to its financial travails.

Sky News has learnt that Mothercare, shares in which have been suspended since the beginning of the month, is on the verge of an agreement with Reliance Brands.

A person close to Reliance said on Thursday that the deal was expected to involve the creation of a joint venture between the two sides that would give it control of Mothercare’s brand in the Indian market.

In return, it was likely to pay about £15m in cash to Mothercare, which would be used to help refinance the company’s debt, they said.

Mothercare was once one of Britain’s biggest listed retailers by market valuation but has seen an inexorable decline over the last 20 years.

It now has a market capitalisation of just £20m.

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In May, it said in a trading statement that it was continuing to pay an interest rate on its loan facility of over 19%.

The company also has a pension deficit larger than its market capitalisation.

Reliance, which owns Hamleys, recently struck a brand licensing deal with Superdry to acquire the British fashion brand’s intellectual property assets in India.

Mothercare has been contacted for comment while Reliance could not be reached for comment.