Steve Fraser, the chief operating officer for United Utilities, will take up his new role as the chief executive of Cadent on 2 September.
Steve Hurrell will continue as interim CEO in the meantime before returning to his previous position of chief financial officer for the gas distribution network.
Hurrell has been in the seat since February, when the outgoing chief executive Chris Train confirmed plans to retire.
Fraser was appointed as his long-term replacement in June. He joined United Utilities fourteen years ago in 2005 and previously served as the water comany’s managing director.