Yorkshire Water CEO Nicola Shaw resigns after company downgraded

Yorkshire Water chief executive Nicola Shaw will step down in January 2026, the company announced, after leading the utility since 2022. Her departure comes shortly after the firm was downgraded by regulators over performance concerns, including environmental and customer service issues. Shaw’s resignation signals a leadership change at a critical time for Yorkshire Water, which serves millions of customers across the region. The company has faced scrutiny over sewage spills and infrastructure challenges, and the downgrade reflects mounting pressure to improve. The board will now search for a successor to steer the company through upcoming regulatory and operational hurdles. With water companies under intense public and political scrutiny, the new CEO will inherit a difficult mandate: restoring trust and meeting stricter environmental standards. Yorkshire Water’s next leader will need to act quickly to address the issues that led to the downgrade and reassure both customers and regulators.