South East Water CEO David Hinton quits as leadership crisis deepens over supply failures
Why South East Water’s CEO David Hinton has been forced to resign
- South East Water's chief executive, David Hinton, is stepping down, just a week after the company's chair, Chris Train, resigned amidst widespread criticism.
- Both departures follow intense scrutiny over significant supply outages that left thousands of customers in Kent and Sussex without water between November and January.
- A scathing parliamentary report from the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Efra) Committee declared 'no confidence' in the company's leadership, citing incompetence, a lack of accountability, and cultural problems.
- The Efra Committee's report specifically criticised the executive team, led by Mr Hinton, stating that leadership change was essential for the company to improve its services and compliance.
- South East Water has apologised for 'operational failures' and a loss of public trust, announcing plans to double investment into its water supply network over the next five years, with Lisa Clement appointed as interim chair.
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