Pennon Appoints Ian Christie as New Chief Asset Officer

Pennon Group has announced the appointment of Ian Christie to a newly created role of Chief Asset Officer, a move aimed at strengthening long term resilience and performance across the Group.

Ian will join Pennon on 4th May 2026 and will become a member of the Pennon Executive.

A new role focused on asset health

Ian Christie is currently Managing Director for Water Services, Capital Delivery and Asset Planning at Dwr Cymru Welsh Water. In his new position, asset health will sit at the centre of Pennon’s decision making around service delivery, environmental protection and long term investment.

Pennon says the appointment comes as it continues to deliver its £3.2 billion investment programme between 2025 and 2030, covering customers, the environment and local communities. Well maintained assets are described as key to providing reliable day to day services while protecting the environment.

Looking ahead to future expectations

The company says asset management will become increasingly important over the next 5, 10 and 25 years, particularly as expectations around performance, resilience and sustainability continue to rise. This shift also reflects the direction set out by Jon Cunliffe in his report and the Government’s white paper, A new vision for water.

Under Ian’s leadership, asset management will be brought together into a single, centralised function. Existing asset management teams across the Group will work alongside operational businesses as part of this structure.

What Pennon’s leadership said

David Sproul, Executive Chairman of Pennon Group, said:

“Creating a Chief Asset Officer role is a deliberate and important step as we continue to strengthen our focus on asset health and reliability, supporting the successful delivery of our current and future business plans. Our assets underpin everything we do, from the services customers rely on every day to our ability to protect the environment and deliver value over the long term. As expectations on performance, resilience and sustainability continue to rise, it is right that asset health and investment decisions sit at the very heart of the Group’s leadership and strategy.

This role has been shaped with a clear view of the direction of travel for the business and has the full support of Keith Haslett, our incoming Chief Executive. Ian brings deep experience and strong leadership in asset management, and I am confident he will play a pivotal role in supporting delivery of our current plans and shaping Pennon’s future.”

Ian Christie on joining Pennon

Commenting on his appointment, Ian said:

“I’m delighted to be joining Pennon. This new role demonstrates a clear commitment to making asset management a strategic priority. Developing a deeper understanding of asset health and how it shapes the service we provide to customers and the environment, both now and into the future will be critical to making informed investment decisions in a changing regulatory landscape. I’m also really looking forward to visiting colleagues across the regions and getting to know the business first hand.”

Ian’s appointment has the full support of Keith Haslett, Pennon’s incoming Chief Executive, and marks a shift towards placing asset management at the core of the Group’s leadership and long term planning.