David Hinton, the chief executive of South East Water, has announced his resignation following widespread water supply outages in Kent and Sussex. According to multiple reports, Hinton will stay on until a successor is found to ensure an 'orderly transition.' His departure comes just a week after Chris Train, the company's chair, resigned amid scathing criticism from MPs.
Key Takeaways
David Hinton, CEO of South East Water, has resigned following widespread water supply outages in Kent and Sussex. His departure comes amid severe criticism from MPs and customers after repeated failures in the water supply network.
- David Hinton resigns as CEO of South East Water
- Resignation follows months of pressure over water supply outages
- Interim chair Lisa Clement acknowledges his service but emphasizes need for new leadership
- Company faces ongoing challenges with infrastructure and customer communication
Thousands of customers were left without tap water, showers, or toilets during outages between November and January. The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Efra) committee grilled Hinton twice over the company's response to these interruptions. The Efra committee described South East Water as 'devoid of proper leadership' and 'riddled with cultural problems.'
Hinton earned a £400,000 annual salary and received an additional £115,000 bonus last year. Despite calls for his resignation, he initially refused to step down but later admitted to making mistakes in handling the outages. The Efra committee criticized the leadership's lack of accountability and 'groupthink,' which they argued prevented the company from analyzing problems effectively.
Hinton had previously stated that he would not take a bonus for 2026 following the latest outage. The company has acknowledged the need for targeted engineering works and operational changes to improve supply network resilience. Lisa Clement, the interim chair of South East Water, thanked Hinton for his service but emphasized the urgent need for competent leadership.
According to BBC News, Hinton's resignation was announced on Friday as election results rolled in, a timing that raised eyebrows. Tunbridge Wells MP Mike Martin told BBC Radio Kent that election results day is clearly 'a good day to bury bad news.' The resignation had cross-party support, with politicians, businesses, and homeowners in south-east England calling for his departure. Hinton's tenure saw a significant deterioration in the company's performance, with the average length of time customers faced water supply issues quadrupling under his watch.
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