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Water UK has announced that former Labour MP Ruth Kelly has been appointed as the trade association’s new chair.
Kelly replaces Anthony Ferrar who has concluded his three-year term that he has held since April 2020.
A former MP for Bolton West from 1997 to 2010, Kelly served in the Cabinet for four years, as secretary of state for education, communities & local government and transport, under both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.
Commenting on her appointment, Kelly said: “This is a crucial time to be joining the water industry where there is, rightly, increasing scrutiny on its performance. I know how important water and the environment are to all of us, especially as we face the increasing pressures of climate change and population growth.
“I look forward to working closely with company chief executives on the transformation that is required to meet the understandable and increasing public expectations for improved rivers and seas. Water UK has a crucial role to play and I am excited to lead it as it supports the water industry to rise to the challenges before it.
“Finally, on behalf of the Water UK Board and team, I would like to thank my predecessor Anthony Ferrar for his leadership of Water UK over the last three years.”
Since stepping down as an MP in 2010, Kelly has acted as the global head of client strategy at HSBC Global Asset Management and pro-vice chancellor for research and enterprise at St Mary’s University, Twickenham.
She also chairs the Thames Freeport group, is a director at Heathrow Airport and acts as a financial adviser to the Vatican.
During her time as an MP Kelly successfully campaigned to protect certain groups – such as charities and SMEs – from rising water rates.
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