Thames Water Resignation of Chief Executive

Thames Water has today announced that Sarah Bentley has resigned as Chief Executive of the Company. Alastair Cochran and Cathryn Ross will assume the role of joint interim CEO effective immediately.

Sarah Bentley will step down from the Board today and will continue to support the interim CEO as needed to support an orderly transition to a new chief Executive. The Thames Water Board will begin the search for a new Chief Executive and further announcements will be made in due course, as appropriate.  

Ian Marchant, Thames Water’s Chairman, said: ‘I want to thank Sarah for everything she has done since joining the Company in 2020, building a first class Executive Team and leading the first phase of the turnaround of the Company.  On behalf of everyone at Thames, the Board wishes her every success for the future'. 

Sarah Bentley said: ‘It has been an honour to take on such a significant challenge, and a privilege to serve Thames Water’s dedicated and inspirational colleagues.  The foundations of the turnaround that we have laid position the company for future success to improve service for customers and environmental performance. I wish everyone involved in the turnaround the very best’. 

Notes for editors:

• Thames Water is the country’s largest water company serving 15 million customers in London and the Thames Valley. 
• Sarah Bentley joined the business in September 2020. She previously held the position of Chief Customer Officer at Severn Trent. Prior to that she was the Managing Director of Accenture’s digital business unit in the UK and Ireland.