Ofwat has announced the appointment of Alena Kozakova as senior director of analytics and chief economist.
Kozakova originally joined the water regulator as chief economist in 2016 and her newly expanded role will see her responsibilities widened to include leading the assurance process for Ofwat’s forthcoming price review, PR19.
Described as an “expert in competition and regulator economics”, Kozakova previously worked for Frontier Economics, the Competition Commission, the Office of Fair Trading, the European Commission’s Directorate General for Competition and a number of UK consumer bodies.
The news of her expanded role comes on the same day (8 January) Rachel Fletcher joins as the regulator’s new chief executive.
On Twitter, Fletcher said: “Really excited to start at Ofwat today. Looking forward to working with the Ofwat team to make a positive and lasting difference for customers.”
Fletcher joins from Ofgem where she was senior partner for consumers and competition. She replaces Cathryn Ross as chief executive, whose formal last day with the regulator will be 19 January.
In a Tweet last week, Ross said: “Delighted to be handing over the reins to Rachel Fletcher from 8 January. I know she will do a fantastic job for customers.”
Ross will be making her first foray into the private sector, as director of regulatory affairs at BT.
Ofwat published its final methodology for PR19 on 13 December.