South East Water names John Halsall as new CEO-Designate amid push to rebuild trust

South East Water has announced John Halsall as its new Chief Executive Officer-Designate as the company prepares for what it calls its largest-ever investment programme.

The appointment was announced on 22 June 2026 and is effective immediately, although it remains subject to regulatory approvals. Once those approvals are in place, Mr Halsall will succeed David Hinton, who had previously announced his resignation and will leave after a handover period.

Mr Halsall brings more than 35 years of experience in infrastructure and utilities, including senior roles at South West Water, Pennon Group, Network Rail and Thames Water. South East Water says he has experience in operations, asset management, capital delivery and major transformation programmes.

He joins at a difficult time for the regional drinking water supplier. South East Water has faced strong criticism in recent years over supply interruptions, customer service and reliability, with many households across Kent and the wider South East expecting clear improvements rather than more promises.

The company says Mr Halsall will lead a £2.1 billion investment programme aimed at updating the network, improving reliability, transforming the business and using smarter technology to meet future demand.

Lisa Clement, Interim Chair of South East Water, said customers, communities and stakeholders “rightly expect better” and said Mr Halsall would bring “energy, direction and focus” to the role.

Mr Halsall said he was looking forward to leading the company at a critical point in its history, adding that customers are demanding “a much more reliable and efficient water supply”.

He said his immediate priorities would include responding to customers’ concerns and delivering short-term improvements over the coming weeks and months. Longer term, he said the £2.1 billion investment would be important for improving reliability and resilience across the South East.

For customers, the appointment will likely be judged on results. A new leader and a large investment programme may sound positive, but South East Water has a lot of work to do to rebuild public confidence.

The role is not an easy one. The previous leadership faced heavy criticism, and many residents will want to see visible improvements in supply reliability, communication and response times when problems happen.

Still, a change at the top gives the company a chance to reset. Mr Halsall arrives with a long background in major infrastructure, and many customers will simply hope that experience now turns into better service on the ground.

Original sources: South East Water