Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water strengthens Executive Team with two senior appointments
Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water has today announced the appointments of Kaye Maguire as Chief People and Governance Officer and Christian Irwin OBE as Chief Asset Officer, further strengthening its new Executive Team as the company delivers its ambitious transformation programme and record £4.2 billion investment to improve services for customers and the environment.
The appointments bring extensive experience from major UK organisations across infrastructure, governance, legal, people leadership and organisational transformation. Together, they will help drive the company’s focus on improving operational performance, building organisational capability and resilience, and delivering better outcomes for customers, communities and the environment.
Kaye Maguire will join the company before the end of the year, with Christian Irwin joining in January 2027.
Kaye joins from Michael Page plc, where she has served as General Counsel and Company Secretary since 2018. In that role she led the company’s global legal, governance, ESG, regulatory and data protection functions, working closely with the Chief Executive and Board to shape strategic decision-making and business transformation. Prior to this, she held several senior leadership positions at Legal & General, including Chief Resourcing and Legal Officer at Legal & General Investment Management, where she combined responsibility for both HR and legal functions. She brings more than 20 years’ experience in executive leadership, governance and organisational change across complex, highly regulated organisations.
As Chief People and Governance Officer, Kaye will lead Welsh Water’s people, legal and governance functions, company secretariat and wider governance framework, helping to build a high-performing organisation capable of delivering the company’s long-term strategy.
Christian joins from Network Rail, where he is Capital Delivery Director for the North West and Central region, leading a £1 billion annual capital investment portfolio stretching from London to the Scottish Borders. He has more than 18 years’ experience delivering major infrastructure, asset management and transformation programmes across highly regulated sectors, with a proven track record of improving operational performance, delivering complex capital projects and driving value for customers. His previous roles include Director of the Rail Investment Centre of Excellence and Industry Programme Director for the South West. He was awarded an OBE in 2022 for services to the rail industry.
As Chief Asset Officer, Christian will lead Welsh Water’s Asset Management function, overseeing the planning, management, maintenance and investment in the company’s water and wastewater assets as it delivers its record £4.2 billion investment programme between now and 2030.
Roch Cheroux, Chief Executive of Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, said: “I am delighted to welcome both Kaye and Christian to Welsh Water at such an important time for our business.
“We are transforming the way we operate to deliver better outcomes for our customers, communities and the environment, alongside the largest investment programme in our history. Kaye and Christian each bring outstanding leadership, deep expertise and proven experience of delivering change in complex, highly regulated organisations.
“Their appointments further strengthen our new Executive Team and demonstrate our commitment to building the capability, culture and operational excellence needed to deliver lasting improvements for the people and communities we serve.”
Kaye Maguire said: “I’m delighted to be joining Dŵr Cymru at such an important time for the organisation. Dŵr Cymru plays a vital role in the lives of millions of people every day, and I’m looking forward to working with colleagues across the business to build on the company’s strong purpose and values. I’m excited to help develop an inclusive, high-performing culture, strengthen governance and support the organisation as it delivers its ambitious plans for customers, communities and the environment.”
Christian Irwin said: “I’m incredibly proud to be joining Dŵr Cymru at such an important time in its journey. The scale of the investment programme and the opportunity to make a lasting difference for customers and the environment is hugely exciting. I look forward to working with colleagues across the business and our external partners to improve performance, strengthen resilience and help deliver our ambitious plans for the future.”
The two appointments are the final changes to the Executive Team since Roch Cheroux took over as Chief Executive in January 2026. As part of the wider restructuring of the entire business, the Executive Team has been reduced by half. The other members of the Executive Team are Mick Jeavons (Chief Finance Officer), Steve Wilson (Chief Operations Officer), Kit Wilson (Chief Customer Officer) and Alun Shurmer (Chief Strategy and Stakeholder Engagement Officer).