Cox to stay extra year as Ofwat chair

Ofwat chair, Jonson Cox, is to stay in post until 30 October 2021, after Defra and the Welsh Government agreed a one year extension to his current term, which was scheduled to end on 31 October 2020.

Cox (pictured) was appointed Ofwat chair in November 2012, and the appointment was renewed in 2015. Defra commented: “He was appointed to resolve long-running issues between investors, companies and the regulator. Since then, jointly with Ofwat’s chief executive, he has co-led the work to bring the water sector back to a core customer and public service focus while retaining an attractive proposition for investors.”

No specific reason was given for the extension, but it would enable Cox to stay in post for the full period of any Competition and Markets Authority appeals that follow the PR19 final determinations.