Defra yesterday announced the appointment of Wendy Barnes and Robin Paynter Bryant to non-executive director positions. The appointments run until early 2016, involve a time commitment of two days a month and pay £10,680 a year.
Barnes is chief operating officer at the Department of Energy and Climate Change and a non-executive director at FCO Services, a trading fund of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Paynter Bryant has more than two decades’ experience in corporate finance and has advised several utilities.
Fletcher said: “I am delighted to be welcoming new members at an exciting time for Ofwat and the sector. There are many challenges ahead and Wendy and Robin will bring new experience and skills to the Board to help us tackle those challenges.”
Ofwat has also named Sonia Brown as its new senior director of markets and economics, a role that has been vacant for several months since Cathryn Ross left.
Brown joins Ofwat from hospitals regulator Monitor and previously spent more than ten years at Ofgem.
Regina Finn, Ofwat chief executive officer, said: “Sonia will bring a fresh perspective to our work, along with the skills and experience we need to continue to drive forward our performance.
“This is a crucial period for the water sector, and Sonia will play a vital role in ensuring we can continue to deliver sustainable water – for today’s customers and the customers of the future.”
Fletcher had been due to step down as chairman in March 2011 but his appointment has been twice extended because of difficulties finding a suitable replacement.
In October, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs announced it was relaunching the recruitment exercise. Fletcher agreed to stay on until July 2012 but expressed a hope to hand over sooner.