South West Water

South West Water Board

The South West Water Board of Directors comprises the Chair (A Non-Executive Director), two Executive Directors, and six further Non-Executive Directors.

The Board considers the Non-Executive Directors to be independent in accordance with the UK Corporate Governance Code, as they are considered to have the appropriate skills, experience in their respective disciplines and personality to bring independent and objective judgment to the Board’s deliberations. Their biographies below demonstrate collectively a broad range of business, financial and other relevant experience.

There is a clear division of responsibilities between the roles of Chair and the Group Chief Executive as recorded in the descriptions of the roles approved by the Board. All Directors are subject to re-election each year.

	Gill Rider – Chair CB, PhD, CCIPD Appointed Gill was appointed to the Board on 1 April 2016 and became Chair on 31 July 2020. Gill has been a member of the Pennon Group Board since 1 September 2012. Skills and experience Gill has a wealth of experience in leadership and governance across a broad range of sectors including professional services, education, not for profit and Government. Gill was the senior independent director of Charles Taylor plc until its sale in January 2020. Formerly, she was head of the Civil Service Capability Group in the Cabinet Office, reporting to the Cabinet Secretary and prior to that held a number of senior positions with Accenture LLP, culminating in the post of chief leadership officer for the global firm. She was previously president of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and chair of the council of the University of Southampton. Other appointments Gill is currently a non-executive director of Intertek Group plc where she is also chair of their remuneration committee. In addition to her PLC roles, Gill is also the President of the Marine Biological Association.
	Susan Davy – Group Chief Executive Officer BSc Hons, ACA Appointed Susan was appointed Chief Executive Officer for South West Water and Pennon Group on 31 July 2020. Having previously served on the South West Water Board as Finance and Regulatory Director from 31 August 2007 until 31 January 2015, Susan has been a member of the Pennon Group Board since appointment initially as Chief Financial Officer Pennon Group on 1 February 2015. Skills and experience Susan’s knowledge of the industry, coupled with her financial and regulatory expertise, has underpinned the development of Pennon’s strategy which has included the value creating acquisition of Bournemouth Water in 2015 and now Bristol Water, as well as the successful Viridor disposal process, all of which she has led. In her 25 years’ experience in the utility sector, Susan has also held a number of other senior roles in the water sector, including at Yorkshire Water. Under her guidance South West Water is the only water company to have achieved fast-track status for two consecutive business plans – the first in 2014, the second in 2019. Susan is highly respected in the City and has been instrumental in building Pennon’s reputation. Other appointments Susan is a Non-Executive Director and Audit Chair of Restore Plc, a member of the CBI President’s Committee, a Water UK Board member, Chair of the Water UK Audit and Finance Committee, member of the Energy & Utilities Skills Partnership Council and was previously Chair of the CBI South West, having served as Chair from 2018-2021 and a member of the A4S (Accounting for Sustainability) CFO leadership network.
	Paul Boote – Group Chief Financial Officer BSc Hons, FCA Appointed Paul was appointed to the Board of Pennon Group plc on 8 July 2020. He is a member of the Environmental, Social and Governance Committee and the Pennon Executive. Skills and experience Paul is a chartered accountant with over 20 years’ experience, having also held senior finance roles at companies operating in the sport, construction and environmental infrastructure industries. He has held a number of senior roles at Pennon, most recently as Pennon’s Director of Treasury, Tax and Group Finance. During this time, he was responsible for the development of Pennon’s sector-leading sustainable debt portfolio, ensuring the Group maintains a responsible approach to tax, as well as leading on financial reporting matters. Paul has been instrumental in the development and successful implementation of the Group’s strategic review. He holds a number of directorships with Group subsidiary companies and is a key member of the executive Finance Committee which he chairs. Paul’s knowledge of the Group and relationships with key external stakeholders, coupled with his corporate finance and financial reporting experience, provides continuity to the Board as the Group evolves through this strategic review period. Other appointments None
	Neil Cooper – Senior Independent Director (Non-Executive) BSc Hons, FCMA Appointed Neil was appointed to the Board on 1 April 2016. Neil has been a member of the Pennon Group Board since appointment on 1 September 2014. Skills and experience Neil brings to the Board extensive experience in a wide variety of corporate and financial matters. Previously, he was group finance director of Barratt Developments plc and, before that, group finance director of William Hill plc and Bovis Homes plc. He also held senior finance positions at Whitbread plc, worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers as a management consultant and held a number of roles with Reckitt & Colman plc. As chair of the Audit Committee, Neil has been influential in directing the Company’s approach on a number of significant matters including internal control, governance and financial reporting. Other appointments Neil is currently the chief financial officer of Currencies Direct, a foreign exchange broker and international payment provider.
	Jon Butterworth MBE – Independent Non-Executive Director MBE, MSc, Flod Appointed Jon was appointed to the Board on 28 September 2017. Jon was also appointed to the Pennon Group Board on 8 July 2020. Skills and experience Jon is the Chief Executive Officer of the UK Gas Business for National Grid Plc and a member of the National Grid Executive Committee. Jon has a distinguished track record and an immense depth of experience and knowledge within the utility sector, having begun his career over 44 years ago as an apprentice in British Gas. He has been the Managing Director of Northwest Gas, Global Environment and Sustainability Manager of Transco, National Operations Director of National Grid, Group Safety, Resilience and Environmental Director of National Grid Plc and formerly CEO of National Grid Ventures, building (£3bn) of growth in renewables across the USA and Europe. Jon’s Utility background makes him keenly aware of the importance of maintaining a balance between performance and safety, and he constructively challenges the Board and management to constantly raise the bar in this area. Other appointments Jon is a Fellow of the Institute of Directors and is a Director of National Grid Gas, National Grid Metering Limited, E.Tapp & Co Limited, Shopfittings Manchester Limited and TMA Property Limited. He is also an Ex-Chair of the CORGI Board, an Ex-Ambassador of the HM Young Offenders Programme and a trustee of the National Gas Museum Trust
	Iain Evans – Independent Non-Executive Director CBE, BSc Hons, FCA, MBA Appointed Iain was appointed to the Board on 31 July 2020. Iain has been a member of the Pennon Group Board since appointment on 1 September 2018. Skills and experience Iain has 40 years of extensive global experience in advising companies and governments on issues of complex corporate strategy. In 1983, he co-founded L.E.K. Consulting in London and built it into one of the world’s largest and most respected corporate strategy consulting firms with a global footprint active in a wide range of industries. Iain was appointed as a non-executive director of Welsh Water plc in 1989 and served on the board for nearly ten years, including five years as chair. As chair of the ESG Committee, Iain is leading the development of a sustainability programme that underpins the delivery of our strategy. Other appointments Iain is a non-executive director of Bologna Topco Limited and continues to act as an independent corporate strategy consultant.
	Claire Ighodaro CBE – Independent Non-Executive Director CBE, BSc Hons, FCMA, DUniv (Hon) Appointed Claire was appointed to the Board on 31 July 2020. Claire has been a member of the Pennon Group Board since appointment on 1 September 2019. Skills and experience Claire has held a number of senior roles and directorships of UK and international organisations and has extensive board experience, serving on audit and governance committees. Claire is a past president of CIMA and was the first woman to lead this organisation. She spent most of her executive career with BT plc. She has also held non-executive directorships across a diverse portfolio including governance committee chair of Bank of America’s Merill Lynch International, audit committee chair of Lloyd’s of London, Flood Re, The Open University and various UK public bodies including UK Trade & Investment and the British Council. As chair of the Remuneration Committee Claire continues to steer the Company’s approach on executive remuneration, ensuring that it is aligned with and supports the strategy. Other appointments Claire is non-executive Chair of the Board and the Governance Committee for Axa XL – UK entities and non-executive chair of the Audit Board of KPMG LLP.
	Dorothy Burwell - Independent Non-Executive Director Appointed Dorothy was appointed to the Board on 1 December 2022 Skills and experience Dorothy is a Partner and Global Partnership Board Member of FGS Global. She has over 20 years of experience in Banking and Communications, specialising in natural resources and advising clients around issues on sustainability, strategy, and corporate communications. She is well known for driving substantive diversity and inclusion agendas. Between 2002 and 2006 Dorothy held analyst and senior roles at Goldman Sachs in the Investment Banking Division in both London and New York as well as in the Firmwide Strategy Group, where she focused on proprietary mergers and acquisitions and new business development. Dorothy graduated the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, USA with a Bachelor and Master of Business Administration, Finance and Management. Other appointments Dorothy is a Non-Executive Director at consumer packaged goods group, Post Holdings, Inc. Dorothy is also a Trustee of the Charity the Consumers’ Association, Which?, the largest independent consumer rights organisation in the UK.
	Loraine Woodhouse - Independent Non-Executive Director BA Hons, ACMA Appointed Loraine was appointed to the Board on 1 December 2022. Skills and experience Loraine is an experienced finance executive, with her experience being predominantly in the retail and consumer sector, but more recently also in real estate and infrastructure through her roles with Intu Properties plc and British Land Company plc. Loraine was the Chief Financial Officer of Halfords Group plc for just under four years until June 2022, before which, she spent five years in executive and senior finance roles within the John Lewis Partnership, including Waitrose. Prior to that, Loraine was Chief Financial Officer of Hobbs, Finance Director of Capital Shopping Centres Limited (subsequently Intu Properties plc) and Finance Director of Costa Coffee Limited. Other appointments Loraine is a Non-Executive Director of The Restaurant Group plc and a member of their Audit, Remuneration and Nomination Committees and is also a Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit Committee at British Land Company plc.