NI Water - Board Members Reappointed

Regional Development Minister, Conor Murphy, has announced reappointments to the Board of NI Water. The Chair, Chris Mellor, and two non executive Board members, John Ballard and Ruth Thompson, have been reappointed.

NI Water was established on 1 April 2007 and the company is responsible for the delivery of water and sewerage services in the north. The Department for Regional Development is the sole shareholder.

The Minister said: “I welcome the reappointment of Chris Mellor, John Ballard and Ruth Thompson to the Board of NI Water. Chris will serve as Chair for another four years; the other members have been appointed for a period of three years. All three have served the Board well over the past three years, during what can only be described as an extremely challenging time. I am therefore reassured that, going forward, the Company will continue to avail of their experience and detailed knowledge of the business.

“These appointments help to ensure continuity and the retention of relevant business experience on the Board at a time of continued transformational change.

“The next few years will be a very significant period for NI Water as it continues to roll out its investment programme; a programme aimed at delivering real benefits to customers and the environment, by further improving the quality of drinking water and by securing better wastewater services. Moreover, this programme must be delivered in the context of a challenging economic and trading environment.”

The Minister concluded: “I am confident that, under the continued chairmanship of Chris Mellor, NI Water has a strong Board, with the ability and capacity to meet these challenges.”

Notes to Editors:

1. NI Water, the successor to Water Service, is the sole provider of water and sewerage services in the north, with over 780,000 domestic, agricultural, commercial and business customers.

2. There are a total of five non-executive Directors on the Board of NI Water, including the Chair.

3. Three of the non-executive directors (including the Chair) have been reappointed by the Minister. The process of making the reappointments was carried out in accordance with the guidance of the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland (OCPA NI).

4. The Chair of Northern Ireland Water, Chris Mellor, is reappointed for four years from 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2013; John Ballard and Ruth Thompson are reappointed for three years from 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2012.

5. Chris Mellor has been acting Chief Executive since June 2008 and will continue in this role until Laurence MacKenzie takes up his post later in the year.

6. The other Board members include Don Price and Declan Gormley, both of whom were appointed for three years with effect from 7 July 2008.

7. Each non-executive Director will be paid £18,000 per annum on the basis of two days attendance per month. An additional per diem allowance may be payable subject to approval.

8. The Chair’s remuneration is £40,000 per annum on the basis of 3-4 days attendance per month. An additional per diem allowance may be payable subject to approval.

9. All appointments to the Board of NI Water have been made on merit and political activity has played no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for the political activity of appointees (if any declared) to be published. Mr Chris Mellor, Mr John Ballard and Mrs Ruth Thompson have declared that they did not engage in any political activity in the last five years.

10. Chris Mellor is a former Chief Executive of the Anglian Water Group. He is a qualified accountant and has worked for over 25 years in the water industry in both the public and private sectors. He is the current Chair and acting Chief Executive of NIW. Mr Mellor does not hold any other public appointments and has not engaged in any political activity in the last five years.

John Ballard is a former Finance Director of the Department for Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) and Water Director with the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). He is a member of the Steering Board for the Marine Fisheries Agency, appointed by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. He is also a non-executive Director of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, NHS Trust. Mr Ballard has not engaged in any political activity in the last five years.

Ruth Thompson was the former Group Corporate Affairs Director for National Grid Plc and has undertaken senior roles in the energy industries. She is a non executive of ONE Regional Development Association, NHS North East, New and Renewable Energy Centre (NaREC), University of Northumbria and Chair of National Energy Action. The Regional Development Association appointment attracts remuneration of £8316 per year for a commitment of two days per month

11. Media queries to: DRD Press Office, Tel 028 90 540007. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.