Louise Beardmore has been appointed as the next chief executive of United Utilities.
Beardmore is the company’s customer service and people director, and will take over from current CEO Steve Mogford next year.
She joins the boards of United Utilities Group plc and United Utilities Water Ltd as CEO designate this week to enable a smooth transition.
Beardmore has worked in both regulated and non-regulated environments in the UK and internationally. She has held a number of senior positions across the United Utilities Group, at North West Water, Norweb and Vertex. She is a non-executive director of Engage for Success and vice president of the Institute of Customer Service.
Sir David Higgins, chair of United Utilities, said: “Louise has been at the heart of the company’s transition to becoming a leading performer in customer service, operational delivery and employee engagement.
“Her experience, strategic vision and constant customer focus will ensure we build on the significant performance improvements we have achieved under Steve’s leadership.”