Yorkshire Water chief executive Nicola Shaw to resign in January

Yorkshire Water chief executive Nicola Shaw will step down from her role in January 2027, BBC News, Water Magazine, and New Civil Engineer report. Shaw has led the utility company since 2022. Water Magazine reports that Nicola Medalova has been named as her successor. [1][2][4][5][6]

The announcement follows a downgraded performance rating for the company and a joint regulator report, according to BBC News, the Yorkshire Evening Post, and New Civil Engineer. Politicians criticized Shaw over executive pay and performance. Liberal Democrat MP Tom Gordon stated that Shaw oversaw abysmal management, while Labour MP Judith Cummins called for a complete change of direction at the company. [1][3][4][6]

Yorkshire Water provides water supply and treatment services across West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, the East Riding of Yorkshire, parts of North Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire, and Derbyshire. The utility originated from the Yorkshire Water Authority established under the Water Act 1973 and was privatized under the Water Act 1989. It was acquired by the Kelda Group in 1999, which was later bought by a consortium of infrastructure funds in February 2008. [7][8]

The company has accumulated debt exceeding £4 billion and faced public scrutiny over permit sewage overflows, high leakage rates, and aging Victorian-era infrastructure. As FTMQ News reported earlier, the Environment Agency declared an official drought in Yorkshire on October 9, 2026, following low rainfall across the region. [8][9]