On the move: Ofwat, SGN, National Grid, SES Water

Utility Week's latest round up of appointments across the industry includes an ex-National Grid director joining the Ofwat board; SGN's newest non-executive director and a change of leadership after Everflow's management buy-back.

Former National Grid director Helen Campbell has been appointed to Ofwat’s board after being board named senior director for sector performance at the regulator in July.

Campbell has been formally added to the board and will oversee Ofwat’s work to improve performance and corporate behaviours of water companies and driving innovation across the sector. She joined Ofwat from the Infrastructure and Projects Authority and previously spent 13 years at National Grid where her roles included director of strategy and performance, gas transmission, and of commercial frameworks.

SGN has brought in Joanna Whittington as independent non-executive director after Laura Sandys stepped down following her five-year term.

Whittington has previously worked in regulation, transport, energy sectors and roles in government that included director general, energy and security at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). From 2018 until 2022, Whittington oversaw BEIS’ energy security, decarbonisation and net zero delivery plans. Prior to this, Whittingham spent 14 years at Ofgem and the rail regulator ORR.

Former SES Water employees have formed a consultancy firm after leaving the water-only company. Smart water strategy manager Tanya Dady, together with Daniel Woodworth whose most recent position was head of asset strategy, and Sian Evans who was leakage, asset intelligence and network strategy analyst have together founded Dayworth Consulting.

Dady had been with the company for more than eight years after cutting her teeth as an engineer at Atkins. Woodworth likewise joined from Atkins and spent 12 years in leakage and heading up strategy teams at SES. Evans’ six years at SES also focused on leakage and networks.

The consultancy will specialise in leakage strategy, smart networks, smart metering and asset management.

After the management buy back of Everflow, founder and chief executive Josh Gill has handed over the reins to Craig Dallison, while remaining with the organisation as a director.

Gill grew the water retail company since founding it in 2015 and expanding into waste services and telecoms.

Dallison, who has been at Everflow for just over a year as chief growth officer, previously worked as an energy consultant after a management career in chemical manufacturing.

Viritech, hydrogen fuel cell developer, named Phil Wild as chief executive following Timothy Lyons, founder, pivoting into the role of company chair.

Wild’s appointment comes ahead of Viritech commercialising its powertrain technology from next year. His experience driving growth in engineering, technology and manufacturing organisations included managing director of 3M, and chief executive of James Cropper for a decade, which included market capitalisation.