South East Water CEO steps down

David Hinton has resigned as chief executive of South East Water with immediate effect, following intense criticism of the company’s response to water supply outages in Kent and Sussex. The company has been under scrutiny after supply problems left tens of thousands of residents without water during the winter months.

Despite the announcement that he is stepping down, Hinton will remain in his position until a successor is appointed. This arrangement is intended to support an orderly handover and maintain continuity at the company during the transition period.

Hinton’s departure comes in the wake of a report from the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, which said MPs had no confidence in South East Water’s leadership. The report was described as damning and focused on the company’s handling of recent supply failures.

The committee’s findings highlighted ongoing issues in the company’s operations and raised concerns about its ability to ensure reliable water services. The loss of confidence in leadership added pressure on the company to demonstrate accountability and change at the top.

South East Water’s customers in Kent and Sussex experienced significant disruption when supply outages left tens of thousands of residents without water during winter. The episodes intensified public and political criticism of the company’s preparedness and response.

The outages and their consequences formed a central part of the scrutiny that culminated in the committee’s report. They also contributed directly to the mounting pressure on senior executives, including the CEO, to take responsibility for service failures.

Hinton’s resignation follows that of South East Water’s chair, Chris Train, who stepped down a week earlier. His departure added to concerns about governance and stability at the company as it faced questions over its performance and leadership.

With both the chair and the chief executive resigning in quick succession, South East Water now faces the task of rebuilding its leadership team while responding to regulatory and political scrutiny of its operations.

The company must now recruit a new chief executive to replace David Hinton while also managing the transition in board leadership after Chris Train’s resignation. Ensuring a smooth succession has been presented as a priority to avoid further disruption.

South East Water will be expected to address the shortcomings identified by MPs and to restore confidence among customers and stakeholders. The leadership changes mark an attempt to reset the company’s approach after a period of sustained criticism.