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Water UK has named the former Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) permanent secretary Sir Brian Bender as its new independent chairman.
He will replace Thames Water chief executive Martin Baggs, who has been in post as interim chairman since May 2014 following the death of Sir David Rowlands.
Bender is a former civil servant and was Defra permanent secretary between 2001 and 2005. He has also held a number of other permanent secretary posts between 1999 and 2009, and has twice served as the UK Permanent Representation to the EU (UKRep Brussels).
One of Bender’s first jobs will be to help the Water UK board to identify a new chief executive to replace Pamela Taylor, who is due to step down at the end of the year.
On his appointment, Bender said: “I am struck by the drive and ambition of Water UK and honoured to become its independent chair.
“My early impression is that of an organisation which knows its role and purpose and has a clear remit on behalf of its members – and a determination to work successfully with stakeholders, encouraging challenge and debate.”
He added: “We have a great story to share and being chair of Water UK will give me the chance to engage and to build on past successes.”
Former interim chairman, Baggs called Bender a “high calibre” appointment and someone with “significant experience of the water sector”.
He added: “Our recent review of Water UK identified the need for us to strengthen our representation in Brussels so his knowledge and understanding of the EU from his time in Whitehall and UKRep Brussels will also prove invaluable to the water industry and our members and indeed our stakeholders.”
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