Our board

The South West Water Board of Directors comprises the Chair (a Non-Executive Director), two Executive Directors, and a further four Non-Executive Directors.

The Board considers the Non-Executive Directors to be independent in accordance with the UK Corporate Governance Code, as they are considered to have the appropriate skills, experience in their respective disciplines and personality to bring independent and objective judgement to the Board’s deliberations. Their biographies below demonstrate collectively a broad range of business, financial and other relevant experience.

There is a clear division of responsibilities between the roles of Chair and the Group Chief Executive as recorded in the descriptions of the roles approved by the Board. All Directors are subject to re-election each year. 

On 7 March 2022, Bristol Water was integrated with South West Water under a single operating licence. Both identities have been retained by the company in their original operating areas and are governed by the same Board of Directors.

Gill Rider (CB, PhD, CCIPD) - Chair

Gill Rider (CB, PhD, CCIPD) - Chair

Gill was appointed to the Board on 1 April 2016 and became Chair on 31 July 2020. Gill has been a member of the Pennon Group Board since 1 September 2012. Gill has a wealth of experience in leadership and governance across a broad range of sectors including professional services, education, not-for-profit and government. Gill was the senior independent director of Charles Taylor plc until its sale in January 2020. Formerly, she was head of the Civil Service Capability Group in the Cabinet Office, reporting to the Cabinet Secretary and prior to that, held a number of senior positions with Accentur LLP, culminating in the post of Chief Leadership Officer for the global firm. She was previously president of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and Chair of the council of the University of Southampton. Gill is currently a Non-Executive Director of Intertek Group plc where she is also chair of their remuneration committee. In addition to her PLC roles, Gill is also the President of the Marine Biological Association.

Susan Davy (BSc Hons, ACA) - Group Chief Executive Officer

Susan Davy (BSc Hons, ACA) - Group Chief Executive Officer

Susan was appointed Group Chief Executive on 31 July 2020. She was appointed to the Board in February 2015 as Chief Finance Officer, having joined the Group as Finance Director of South West Water in 2007. Susan’s knowledge of the industry, coupled with her financial and regulatory expertise, has underpinned the development of Pennon’s strategy. This has included the value-creating acquisitions of Bournemouth Water, Bristol Water, SES Water and the Viridor disposal, all of which she has led. In her 25+ years’ experience in the utility sector, Susan has also held a number of other senior roles in the water sector, including at Yorkshire Water. Under her guidance South West Water has become the only water company to have achieved fast-track status for two consecutive business plans – the first in 2014, the second in 2019. Susan is highly respected in the City and has been instrumental in building Pennon’s reputation. Susan is a non-executive director and Audit Chair of Restore Plc. She is president of the IoW, holds a place on the board of Water UK, is a member of the Energy & Utilities Skills Partnership Council and was previously a member of the A4S (Accounting for Sustainability) CFO leadership network.

Steve Buck - Group Finance Officer

Steve Buck - Group Finance Officer

Steve was appointed to the Board on 27 November 2023. Steve is a Chartered Management Accountant and a firm believer in the importance of engagement, inclusivity, scrutiny and transparency when it comes to delivering against the needs of a modern business acting with public interest at its core. Steve has spent almost two decades working across the globe in different roles within the utility sector. He has led finance and transformation functions, focusing on delivering for both shareholders and millions of customers in complex and challenging environments. Between 2008 and 2017 Steve held a number of positions within Centrica including Group Head, Finance and Transformation. Prior to this, he held a number of roles in Thames Water.
Jon Butterworth (MBE,MSc, Flod) – Independent Non-Executive Director

Jon Butterworth (MBE,MSc, Flod) – Independent Non-Executive Director

Jon was appointed to the Board on 28 September 2017. Jon was also appointed to the Pennon Group Board on 8 July 2020. Jon is the Chief Executive Officer of the UK Gas Business for National Grid Plc and a member of the National Grid Executive Committee. Jon has a distinguished track record and an immense depth of experience and knowledge within the utility sector, having begun his career over 44 years ago as an apprentice in British Gas. He has been the Managing Director of Northwest Gas, Global Environment and Sustainability Manager of Transco, National Operations Director of National Grid, Group Safety, Resilience and Environmental Director of National Grid Plc and formerly CEO of National Grid Ventures, building £3bn of growth in renewables across the USA and Europe. Jon’s utility background makes him keenly aware of the importance of maintaining a balance between performance and safety, and he constructively challenges the Board and management to constantly raise the bar in this area. Jon is a Fellow of the Institute of Directors and is a Director of National Grid Gas, National Grid Metering Limited, E. Tapp & Co Limited, Shopfittings Manchester Limited and TMA Property Limited. He is also an ex-Chair of the CORGI Board, an ex-Ambassador of the HM Young Offenders Programme and a trustee of the National Gas Museum Trust.
Iain Evans (CBE, BSc Hons, FCA, MBA) – Independent Non-Executive Director

Iain Evans (CBE, BSc Hons, FCA, MBA) – Independent Non-Executive Director

Iain was appointed to the Board on 31 July 2020. Iain has been a member of the Pennon Group Board since appointment on 1 September 2018. Iain has 40 years of extensive global experience in advising companies and governments on issues of complex corporate strategy. In 1983, he co-founded L.E.K. Consulting in London and built it into one of the world’s largest and most respected corporate strategy consulting firms with a global footprint active in a wide range of industries. Iain was appointed as a Non-Executive Director of Welsh Water plc in 1989 and served on the board for nearly 10 years, including five years as chair. As chair of the ESG Committee, Iain is leading the development of a sustainability programme that underpins the delivery of our strategy. Iain is a non-executive director of Bologna Topco Limited and continues to act as an independent corporate strategy consultant.
Claire Ighodaro (CBE, BSc Hons, FCMA, DUniv (Hon)) – Independent Non-Executive Director

Claire Ighodaro (CBE, BSc Hons, FCMA, DUniv (Hon)) – Independent Non-Executive Director

Claire was appointed to the Board on 31 July 2020. Claire has been a member of the Pennon Group Board since appointment on 1 September 2019. Claire has held a number of senior roles and directorships of UK and international organisations and has extensive board experience, serving on audit and governance committees. Claire is a past president of CIMA and was the first woman to lead this organisation. She spent most of her executive career with BT plc. She has also held non-executive directorships across a diverse portfolio including Governance Committee Chair of Bank of America’s Merill Lynch International, Audit Committee Chair of Lloyd’s of London, Flood Re, The Open University and various UK public bodies including UK Trade & Investment and the British Council. As Chair of the Remuneration Committee Claire continues to steer the company’s approach on executive remuneration, ensuring that it is aligned with and supports the strategy. Claire is non-executive Chair of the Board and the Governance Committee for Axa XL - UK entities and Non-Executive Chair of the Audit Board of KPMG LLP.
Dorothy Burwell – Independent Non-Executive Director

Dorothy Burwell – Independent Non-Executive Director

Dorothy was appointed to the Board on 1 December 2022. Dorothy is a Partner and Global Partnership Board Member of FGS Global. She has more than 20 years of experience in banking and communications, specialising in natural resources and advising clients on issues including sustainability, strategy, and corporate communications. She is well-known for driving substantive diversity and inclusion agendas. Between 2002 and 2006 Dorothy held analyst and senior roles at Goldman Sachs in the Investment Banking Division in both London and New York as well as in the Firmwide Strategy Group, where she focused on proprietary mergers and acquisitions, and new business development. Dorothy graduated the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, USA, with a Bachelor and Master of Business Administration, Finance and Management. Dorothy is a Non-Executive Director at consumer packaged goods group, Post Holdings, Inc. Dorothy is also a Trustee of the Consumers’ Association charity, Which?, the largest independent consumer rights organisation in the UK.
Loraine Woodhouse (BA Hons, ACMA) – Independent Non-Executive Directo

Loraine Woodhouse (BA Hons, ACMA) – Independent Non-Executive Directo

Loraine was appointed to the Board on 1 December 2022. Loraine is an experienced finance executive, with her experience being predominantly in the retail and consumer sector, but more recently in real estate and infrastructure through her roles with Intu Properties plc and British Land Company plc. Loraine was the Chief Financial Officer of Halfords Group plc for just under four years until June 2022, before which, she spent five years in executive and senior finance roles within the John Lewis Partnership, including Waitrose. Prior to that, Loraine was Chief Financial Officer of Hobbs, Finance Director of Capital Shopping Centres Limited (subsequently Intu Properties plc) and Finance Director of Costa Coffee Limited. Loraine is a Non-Executive Director of The Restaurant Group plc and a member of their Audit, Remuneration and Nomination Committees and is also a Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit Committee at British Land Company plc.