Latest news with #SusanDavy
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Relief in Brixham as South West Water boss retires
South West Water (SWW) boss Susan Davy's retirement has come as a welcome relief for one customer. Brixham resident Louise Harcarova-Geary fell ill during the cryptosporidium outbreak along with her young daughter in 2024. The outbreak, which left 143 people ill and led to four hospitalisations, was traced to a contaminated reservoir. Ms Davy's retirement was a "good thing, because there might be some change from this", said Ms Harcarova-Geary. Pennon Group, which owns SWW, praised her leadership, with chairman David Sproul saying she navigated the group "through some challenging external headwinds to emerge stronger and more resilient". Ms Harcarova-Geary, who still relies on bottled water a year after the outbreak, said she had lost trust in the company's supply. "Hopefully funds can be distributed properly to make sure our water integration system is properly maintained going forward," she said. Ms Davy, who had been with SWW's parent company Pennon Group for nearly two decades, faced mounting criticism for her handling of the crisis. Just a day before her retirement was announced, water regulator Ofwat revealed a £24m enforcement package against SWW, citing failings in how the company managed its network. Cryptosporidium outbreak in Brixham: Contaminated drinking water led to 143 confirmed illnesses and four hospitalisations in 2024 Regulatory action by Ofwat: Ofwat found failings in South West Water's management of wastewater treatment and sewer networks. A £24m enforcement package was introduced to avoid a £19m fine Environmental and pollution concerns: In June, one of SWW's treatment works was the source of pollution that killed thousands of fish in a Cornish river Repeated storm overflow incidents In April a burst water main in Plymouth left hundreds of homes and businesses without water for several days In a statement, Pennon Group praised Ms Davy's leadership, highlighting her role in acquiring three other water companies and overseeing a £4.2bn sale of waste firm Viridor. The company also noted her announcement of a record £3.2bn capital investment programme over the next five years. Pennon's board will conduct a formal search for a successor, during which time Ms Davy will continue to helm the company, it said in a statement. Details of Ms Davy's retirement compensation will be published on the company's website, it said. She will be treated as a "good leaver" under the board's remuneration policy. Ms Davy said: "Running a water company is always interesting, often challenging, but totally fulfilling "I have enjoyed taking responsibility for the provision of a sustainable service to millions of homes." Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ South West Water boss Susan Davy to retire Enforcement action of £24m for water firm failures Watch: South West Water boss on bills and spills South West Water
BBC News
12-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Relief in Brixham as South West Water boss Susan Davy retires
South West Water (SWW) boss Susan Davy's retirement has come as a welcome relief for one resident Louise Harcarova-Geary fell ill during the cryptosporidium outbreak along with her young daughter in 2024. The outbreak, which left 143 people ill and led to four hospitalisations, was traced to a contaminated Davy's retirement was a "good thing, because there might be some change from this", said Ms Group, which owns SWW, praised her leadership, with chairman David Sproul saying she navigated the group "through some challenging external headwinds to emerge stronger and more resilient". Ms Harcarova-Geary, who still relies on bottled water a year after the outbreak, said she had lost trust in the company's supply."Hopefully funds can be distributed properly to make sure our water integration system is properly maintained going forward," she Davy, who had been with SWW's parent company Pennon Group for nearly two decades, faced mounting criticism for her handling of the a day before her retirement was announced, water regulator Ofwat revealed a £24m enforcement package against SWW, citing failings in how the company managed its network. What issues did Susan Davy face? Cryptosporidium outbreak in Brixham: Contaminated drinking water led to 143 confirmed illnesses and four hospitalisations in 2024Regulatory action by Ofwat: Ofwat found failings in South West Water's management of wastewater treatment and sewer networks. A £24m enforcement package was introduced to avoid a £19m fineEnvironmental and pollution concerns: In June, one of SWW's treatment works was the source of pollution that killed thousands of fish in a Cornish riverRepeated storm overflow incidents In a statement, Pennon Group praised Ms Davy's leadership, highlighting her role in acquiring three other water companies and overseeing a £4.2bn sale of waste firm Viridor. The company also noted her announcement of a record £3.2bn capital investment programme over the next five board will conduct a formal search for a successor, during which time Ms Davy will continue to helm the company, it said in a of Ms Davy's retirement compensation will be published on the company's website, it said. She will be treated as a "good leaver" under the board's remuneration Davy had said: "Running a water company is always interesting, often challenging, but totally fulfilling"I have enjoyed taking responsibility for the provision of a sustainable service to millions of homes."
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
South West Water boss Susan Davy to retire
The chief executive officer of Pennon Group which runs South West Water has announced her retirement. Susan Davy, who is also on the board of Pennon Group, served as CEO for five years and has been chief financial officer since 2015. She said: "Running a water company is always interesting, often challenging, but totally fulfilling. I have enjoyed taking responsibility for the provision of a sustainable service to millions of homes." A £24m enforcement package for South West Water (SWW) was proposed on Thursday after a three-year investigation into its failures in managing wastewater treatment works and sewer networks. David Sproul, chairman of Pennon Group, said Ms Davy had navigated the group through some "challenging external headwinds to emerge stronger and more resilient". "Susan will continue to lead the group whilst we appoint her successor, ensuring a smooth and orderly succession," he said. A statement from Pennon Group added: "After more than 18 years with the group, and nearly 30 years in the water sector, Susan has decided the time is right for her to hand over to a new leader." Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version. You can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on X to get the latest alerts. Enforcement action of £24m for water firm failures Watch: South West Water boss on bills and spills
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Boss of South West Water owner Pennon to retire
The boss of Pennon has revealed plans to retire from the water firm, days after it paid a major settlement to regulators after wastewater treatment failures. Susan Davy said she will step down as chief executive and director on the South West Water parent firm's board after 18 years with the company. The firm said it will conduct a formal process to appoint her successor, with Ms Davy remaining at the head of the business until the new chief executive is agreed upon. Ms Davy said it is a 'natural juncture' to retire from the business after it agreed a £3.2 billion investment plan with regulator Ofwat in December last year. The departure plan also comes days after South West Water agreed to pay £24 million after the watchdog found it spilled wastewater in the environment when it should not have done. Ofwat said its investigation found a 'range of failures' in how the water company managed its wastewater treatment works and sewer network. It also comes just over a year after South West Water's major water contamination incident in Brixham, south Devon. An outbreak of cryptosporidium – a parasite that causes infection – in the water supply left some people in hospital, while more than 100 others reported symptoms including diarrhoea. The departing boss receive a pay package worth £803,000 for the latest financial year after receiving £191,000 in long-term bonuses. Ms Davy said: 'I have been proud to lead the extraordinary team at Pennon whether in the offices, at reservoirs, on the road or in depots. 'This is vital work, and our people never shirk from that responsibility. 'The approval of our investment plans by Ofwat made this a natural juncture to retire from Pennon. 'This has been my life for the past 30 years, and now it's right I hand this huge responsibility to the next generation of leaders.' David Sproul, chairman of Pennon, said: 'Susan has been a passionate supporter of the sector over many years and has led Pennon through its transition to focus on UK water. 'The board and I are incredibly grateful to Susan for her unwavering leadership, as she has navigated the group through some challenging external headwinds to emerge stronger and more resilient as we look ahead to the next regulatory period. 'Susan will continue to lead the group whilst we appoint her successor, ensuring a smooth and orderly succession.'
The Independent
11-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Boss of South West Water owner Pennon to retire
The boss of Pennon has revealed plans to retire from the water firm, days after it paid a major settlement to regulators after wastewater treatment failures. Susan Davy said she will step down as chief executive and director on the South West Water parent firm's board after 18 years with the company. The firm said it will conduct a formal process to appoint her successor, with Ms Davy remaining at the head of the business until the new chief executive is agreed upon. Ms Davy said it is a 'natural juncture' to retire from the business after it agreed a £3.2 billion investment plan with regulator Ofwat in December last year. The departure plan also comes days after South West Water agreed to pay £24 million after the watchdog found it spilled wastewater in the environment when it should not have done. Ofwat said its investigation found a 'range of failures' in how the water company managed its wastewater treatment works and sewer network. It also comes just over a year after South West Water's major water contamination incident in Brixham, south Devon. An outbreak of cryptosporidium – a parasite that causes infection – in the water supply left some people in hospital, while more than 100 others reported symptoms including diarrhoea. The departing boss receive a pay package worth £803,000 for the latest financial year after receiving £191,000 in long-term bonuses. Ms Davy said: 'I have been proud to lead the extraordinary team at Pennon whether in the offices, at reservoirs, on the road or in depots. 'This is vital work, and our people never shirk from that responsibility. 'The approval of our investment plans by Ofwat made this a natural juncture to retire from Pennon. 'This has been my life for the past 30 years, and now it's right I hand this huge responsibility to the next generation of leaders.' David Sproul, chairman of Pennon, said: 'Susan has been a passionate supporter of the sector over many years and has led Pennon through its transition to focus on UK water. 'The board and I are incredibly grateful to Susan for her unwavering leadership, as she has navigated the group through some challenging external headwinds to emerge stronger and more resilient as we look ahead to the next regulatory period. 'Susan will continue to lead the group whilst we appoint her successor, ensuring a smooth and orderly succession.'
