Our business

Board of Directors
The Rt Hon Lord Smith of Finsbury - Independent Chairman
Catherine May - Senior Independent Non-executive Director
Alice Cummings - Independent Non-executive Director
Professor Ian Barker - Independent Non-executive Director
Keith Harris - Non-executive Director and Arjun Infrastructure Partners' Representative
Peter Antolik - Non-executive Director and Arjun Infrastructure Partners' Representative
Charley Maher - Group Chief Executive Officer, South Staffordshire Plc

  
Executive Team
Charley Maher
Group CEO South Staffordshire PLC

Andy Willicot, Managing DirectorCharley was appointed South Staffordshire Plc’s Group Chief Executive Officer in 2023. Prior to joining, Charley worked for YTL UK, as Chief Commercial Officer of Wessex Water Group, and Managing Director at Pelican Business Services and water2business. Earlier in her career she was with NatWest and the RBS Group.

Charley is passionate that essential services and infrastructure should always deliver for customers, clients and our planet, and has over 20 years of experience, focused on driving business growth and delivering high standards of customer service and client delivery, engaging stakeholders in a variety of sectors. A passionate enabler of people, Charley has achieved success as a leader, developing cultures and connections focused on people thriving, supporting communities and creating social value.

Charley is in interim charge of Cambridge Water whilst recruitment continues for a new, permanent Managing Director.

Caroline Cooper
Strategy and Regulation Director

Caroline Cooper, Strategy and Regulation DirectorCaroline was appointed in 2020, having previously been responsible for our successful PR19 submission, developing a business plan which delivers for our customers and the environment. This saw us secure over £660m of funding for the period 2020-25.

Caroline has spent all of her career in the water sector, previously working for Severn Trent until she joined South Staffs Water in 2003. She originally joined as an analyst in Asset Management and has progressed through a number of roles within the business, with extensive knowledge in asset management, business planning and strategy development.

Robert Boswell
Interim Operations Director

Robert Boswell, Interim Operations DirectorRobert was appointed in June 2023, having started his career with the company in 1996. He has been responsible for delivering operational excellence in multiple front-line departments specialising in energy, water production and civil engineering.

In this role, Robert oversees the delivery of Capital Delivery, Energy and Operational Technologies. His focus is managing one of our biggest operational costs - energy, and looking at how we become greener, whilst developing smarter networks.

Joanna Smith
Finance Director

Joanna SmithWith a long and diverse career in finance and leadership, Joanna joined South Staffs Water from Halma Plc, a FTSE 100 global group of life-saving technology companies, where she was Chief Financial Officer of the Environmental and Analysis sector.

Joanna has been a Finance Director since 2007, gaining experience in the manufacturing, aerospace and retail sectors. She has a degree in law and is a qualified accountant. Outside of work, Joanna enjoys country walks with her family and two dogs and is a keen amateur baker.