Tate & Lyle’s chief executive will join the board of the Coventry-based UK water supply company on 4 April.

Only 4% of new director roles went to ethnic minority candidates, down from nearly 30% two years ago, latest figures show.

Richard Taylor has been appointed as a non-executive director of the water supply company with effect from 1 April.

Sheldon is a senior adviser in the investment banking division at Credit Suisse, while Delay is chief executive of the Carbon Trust.