Thames names Baggs' successor as chief

Thames Water has named current boss of London-based international mobile telecoms network firm Truphone, Steve Robertson (pictured), as successor to the water firm's charismatic chief executive officer Martin Baggs. Robertson will take the reins at the UK's biggest water company in September this year.

Chairman of Thames Water, Sir Peter Mason, said: “Steve Robertson has demonstrated outstanding ability to innovate and meet customer needs in a regulated environment. He will be joining Thames Water at a time of significant change in the industry, with the competitive market open to all non-household customers from next April. This, along with other upcoming regulatory changes will require an even sharper focus on our customer service. We look forward to Steve leading the company into this new era.”

Baggs has led Thames for six years during which he was a leading voice on the UK water sector's future and on the urgent need for measures to shore up London's water resources. When he announced in November his intention to stand down he gave the company open-ended notice in which to conduct its search for his successor

Robertson's career to date has been in the telecoms sector. Before becoming chief executive officer of Truphone in 2011, Robertson held the same post at BT Openreach.

Thames is expected to announce its appointment of a successor to former chief financial officer Stuart Siddall who announced his resignation in April.