Thames reshuffles top brass as Spencer moves to chief operating officer

Thames Water last week announced its chief delivery officer, Steve Spencer, will take on the role of chief operating officer from Lawrence Gosden, who resigned in March but is now staying on for a year in the new role of asset management director.

The changes are part of an executive team restructure being undertaken by interim executive chairman Ian Marchant following the departure of chief executive Steve Robertson.

Spencer (pictured) joined Thames in 2012 and took up the executive role of chief delivery officer in April 2017. His earlier career included roles at Southern Water and MWH Australia. Gosden has held several executive positions since joining Thames in 2007 and previously held senior positions at Southern Water and South East Water.

One of Spencer’s first announcements was that the company will build its first sewage works since 2005, in Guildford, Surrey. The development is part of the Weyside Urban Village, where 41 hectares of brownfield land will house 1,500 new homes. The Guildford’s population is set to rise by more than 20,000 to 167,000 by 2034.

• See June’s THE WATER REPORT for more details on Thames’ executive restructure and interim management plan.