Ofgem director appointed chair of Southern Water

Southern Water has announced that Ofgem non-executive director Keith Lough has been appointed as the water retailer’s independent chairman.

In addition former RWE Innogy and Npower chief operating officer Kevin McCullough has been appointed as an independent non-executive director, effective immediately.

Lough, a qualified accountant, has had senior board positions at Lasmo plc and British Energy plc.

From 2015 to 2018 he was non-executive chairman of Gulf Keystone plc, and his non-executive positions currently include Rockhopper Exploration, Cairn Energy plc and Hunting plc.

Lough has been a non-executive director of Ofgem since 2012; he will step down from this role prior to taking up his chairmanship with Southern on 1 August.

He said: “I am pleased to be appointed as chairman for Southern Water Services at a time of great challenge for both the company and the wider water sector in the face of regulatory scrutiny.

“I look forward to working with (chief executive) Ian McAulay and the Southern Water team as we continue to build upon the transformation Ian has been ably leading for the past two and a half years.”

McCullough is currently chief executive of Calon Energy Limited, having previously been chief executive at UK Coal Production Limited. Prior to this he was chief operating officer for RWE Innogy, and then Npower.

He also has served as chairman of Horizon Nuclear Power prior to its sale to Hitachi and was also a non-executive director at Greencoat UK Wind plc.

McAulay said: “I welcome Keith and Kevin’s appointment to the board of Southern Water, each bringing experience and skills that will be invaluable as we develop and shape our responses to the many challenges and opportunities ahead.”

Acting chairman Paul Sheffield will continue to chair the remuneration committee and to be the company’s senior independent director.