Michael Roberts is to leave his role as chief executive of trade body Water UK after four years in the role.
The organisation said a four-year term had always been Roberts’ intention and that he would remain in place until the new year while a successor is sought.
“During my time here we have developed new insight to policy, such as our ground-breaking research on water resilience looking ahead to 2065, and raised the profile of a vitally important industry.
“Water UK is now heavily involved in promoting public-facing initiatives, such as the successful national Refill campaign and Fine to Flush, and we’ve been at the centre of the industry’s preparations for Brexit.
“Possibly the biggest development in my time here has been our central involvement in the debate about sector legitimacy, most recently in the form of the industry’s ambitious Public Interest Commitment.
“As the Public Interest Commitment moves from conception to the important implementation stage, and as the sector in England and Wales moves towards the next AMP, this is a good time to pass on the baton to someone else.”
Before joining Water UK, Roberts was chief executive at the Association of Train Operating Companies between 2008 and 2015 – a role which was combined with that of director general of the Rail Delivery Group from 2014.
He has held senior roles at the Confederation of British Industry, working in policy development across a range of sectors including the environment, energy and transport, before which he worked in political consultancy. He has also served as a non-executive director of the Carbon Trust.