Ofwat has begun the hunt for a new senior director of customers and casework to replace Richard Khaldi, who has announced he will step down form the role in May to join PA Consulting Group.
Commenting on his departure, Khaldi said: “After 10 years in economic regulation of the water sector, both in Scotland and England, I’ve decided to take on a new challenge. I’ll be joining PA Consulting Group in June to work with their Energy and Utilities team. It has been a privilege to serve on Ofwat’s Board and to have worked with such fantastic people across the organisation.”
The new senior director will lead the market outcomes and enforcement programme, which will pull together the regulator’s work across the newly competitive market, and will receive a salary of around £120,000.
Ofwat chief executive Cathryn Ross announced plans in September 2015 to overhaul the regulator’s senior management team in preparation for PR19, which resulted in the loss of two roles – chief regulation officer and senior director of finance – and the creation of four new roles.
The new role of senior director for Thames Tideway was filled by Keith Mason, formerly director of finance and networks, in December last year.
Former senior director of operations Bev Messinger immediately took on the new role of senior director of business improvement. She announced in September 2016 that she was leaving the regulator, to become chief executive of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health.
Ofwat’s overhaul also saw the departure of former chief regulation office, Sonia Brown.