Pennon has today announced the appointment of Ian Christie, currently Managing Director - Water Services, Capital Delivery and Asset Planning at Dwr Cymru Welsh Water, to a newly created role of Chief Asset Officer (CAO) for Pennon Group.
He will join on 4 May 2026 and will be a member of the Pennon Executive.
David Sproul, Executive Chairman of Pennon Group said:
“Creating a Chief Asset Officer role is a deliberate and important step as we continue to strengthen our focus on asset health and reliability, supporting the successful delivery of our current and future business plans. Our assets underpin everything we do, from the services customers rely on every day to our ability to protect the environment and deliver value over the long term. As expectations on performance, resilience and sustainability continue to rise, it is right that asset health and investment decisions sit at the very heart of the Group’s leadership and strategy.
“This role has been shaped with a clear view of the direction of travel for the business and has the full support of Keith Haslett, our incoming Chief Executive. Ian brings deep experience and strong leadership in asset management, and I am confident he will play a pivotal role in supporting delivery of our current plans and shaping Pennon’s future.”
Pennon Group said the appointment will strengthen its capabilities ensuring the condition, performance and resilience of Pennon’s assets reinforce decisions on service delivery, environmental protection and long-term investment.
Looking forward over the next 5, 10, 25-year horizon, according to Pennon asset management will become ever more central to meeting rising expectations and is at the heart of the new regulatory landscape laid out in the Cunliffe report and clearly signposted in the Government’s A new vision for water white paper.
Ian Christie brings extensive experience across asset management, operational delivery and system planning. Under Ian’s leadership, asset management will become a central, strategic function across the Group. Existing asset management teams will be brought together within a single, centralised function, which will partner with the operational businesses.
Pennon said his expertise will be instrumental in strengthening the Group’s focus on asset health and reliability, and in supporting the successful delivery of current and future business plans.
Commenting on his appointment, Ian Christie said:
“I’m delighted to be joining Pennon. This new role demonstrates a clear commitment to making asset management a strategic priority. Developing a deeper understanding of asset health and how it shapes the service we provide to customers and the environment, both now and into the future will be critical to making informed investment decisions in a changing regulatory landscape. I’m also really looking forward to visiting colleagues across the regions and getting to know the business first-hand.”
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