Thames Water has appointed its first chief digital officer - John Beaumont is joining Britain’s biggest water company after 12 years focused on customer and operational-led transformations as a partner at Bain & Company, the global management consultant.
He will start work in September and is responsible for IT, data analytics and the application of digital technologies across Thames Water.
Thames Water chief executive Steve Robertson said:
“Providing our 15 million customers with the best possible water and wastewater service includes making innovative use of digital channels to improve communication and customer experience. At the same time, digital technologies have a huge part to play in finding more efficient ways to manage our networks and equipment. Having a chief digital officer will transform the way we work and I’m delighted John has agreed to take on this exciting new role.”
John Beaumont, who spent the majority of his Bain career working in infrastructure-heavy industries, said:
“I’m thrilled to be joining Thames Water. The application of digital technologies will both improve customer outcomes and reduce operating costs, and I’m excited to help Thames Water on this journey. I have been hugely impressed by the team Steve has assembled, and feel privileged to be joining them as we transform Thames Water into the UK’s best water company.”
Thames Water has made a number of improvements to its digital customer channels this year, including the introduction of 24-hour social media coverage on Twitter and Facebook.
A new webchat service is also due to launch this month, while major upgrades are underway to make the company website more interactive for its 15 million customers across London and the Thames Valley.
Have your say in the UK Water Sector Cyber Security Survey 2017
In partnership with leading UK water association Future Water, and the support of Water UK, Waterbriefing has launched a major survey on the growing challenges surrounding cyber security in the water sector.
Today the water sector is generating ever-increasing amounts of data from assets, information centres, AI systems and customer information
While the improvements the water companies can deliver from access to the data are significant, one of the key threats now facing the sector is the growing risk of cyber-attacks.
Click here to have your say on the issues
In a TV show that will explain the complex journey of the wastewater treatment process, Lakeside Equipment Corporation is set to feature in US Public Television’s All Access program with Andy Garcia.
Environmental Services & Solutions (ESS) Expo, the UK’s largest environmental event, has released the full speaker programme for its 2025 event, which now features seven shows spanning all corners of the environmental sector, under one roof at the NEC Birmingham.
We are exhibiting at WWEM – Water, Wastewater and Environmental Management Expo, which is one of the eight exhibitions taking place at the NEC, Birmingham 17-18 September 2025 as part of ESS Expo 2025. Please come along and visit us at Stand WW-S60.
Publication of the Independent Water Commission’s Final Report, alongside new legislation and updated national standards, marks a major turning point in the wider adoption of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) by water companies and developers, according to Alex Stephenson, director, SuDSPlanter.
Hear how United Utilities is accelerating its investment to reduce spills from storm overflows across the Northwest.
Find out more about the remarkable career opportunities on offer at WSP - scroll down to watch the inspirational video. 
What is to be done about the UK’s failing utilities? Listen to Professor Dieter Helm explore the options to tackle the UK’s failing utilities – Thames Water, the Royal Mail and Network Rail in particular.