Aqua CEO Sue Holden to step into new role as Aqua Chair

After almost two years of leading Aqua as its Chief Executive, Sue Holden will sadly be stepping down from the role for personal reasons. We are, however, delighted to share that Sue has agreed to transition into the role of Aqua’s Chair, following the departure of Sir David Dalton, overseeing our Board and steering the direction of the organisation into the future. Sue will move into the Chair role once a new Chief Executive has been appointed. 

Phil Wadeson, Vice Chair of Aqua’s Board who is stepping up as Chair in the interim period, said of Sue’s decision: 

“On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Sue for her exceptional contributions as CEO, and her strong leadership during a period where our customers have experienced widespread change and immense challenges. We are thrilled to be able to retain Sue’s vast experience and expertise within Aqua and look forward to the impact she can make in her future role as Chair. Sue has a wealth of knowledge and experience that is very difficult to replace, and so it is incredibly significant for us to keep her within Aqua. I look forward to the work we can do together as a Board and the opportunities that await the organisation in the future.” 

Sue added:

“I would like to thank Aqua’s staff and customers for all we have achieved together during my time as Chief Executive. After much contemplation, I have made the decision to step down from the role. However, this is far from goodbye as I look forward to my transition into a new role as Chair of the Board. In this role, I will continue to contribute strategically to Aqua’s work and ensure that we remain at the forefront of improvement across the UK and beyond. This transition will allow me to balance my personal priorities whilst staying deeply connected to the organisation I value so much.” 

Phil Wadeson will continue as Interim Chair of the Board during the recruitment process for our new CEO, for which we will begin advertising shortly.