Affinity Water appoints Keith Haslett as new, permanent chief

Affinity Water has appointed Keith Haslett as its new permanent chief executive. He will join from Northumbrian Water, where he is currently water director “in the coming months”. Haslett (pictured) has previously worked at United Utilities and Northern Ireland Water.

Affinity’s interim chief executive and former chief financial officer, Stuart Ledger, will stay on until Haslett joins. He will then leave the company after five years with Affinity. He is expected to join Southern Water as chief financial officer (CFO).

Affinity Water chair, Ian Tyler, said: “The Board and I are delighted that Keith will join Affinity Water as our chief executive officer (CEO). Keith has a deep knowledge and experience of the water industry and has a formidable track record. I believe he will build on the legacy of Stuart’s excellent management and will provide strong leadership through the next price review whilst continuing to deliver improved service to our customers.

“The Board and I will be sad to see Stuart go. He has made a huge contribution to the company, both as a first-class CFO and as an excellent interim CE). As CFO he navigated us through our last price review and the financial challenges of the pandemic, In the last year as interim CEO he has led a turnaround in company performance, putting the company on a firm foundation to deliver our undertakings in this regulatory period and to prepare for the next.”