Wessex Water has appointed Anglian Water’s Richard Eadie as its new chief financial officer (CFO), succeeding long-serving finance chief Andy Pymer, who will retire later this year after more than three decades with the company.

Eadie will join in August from Anglian, where he currently serves as executive finance director.

He brings more than 13 years of senior finance experience in the UK water sector, having previously held finance and strategy roles at Severn Trent, as well as positions at Danone, Apple and Paramount Pictures.

Pymer, who has served on the Wessex Water board for 14 years, will work alongside Eadie during a transition period to ensure a smooth handover of responsibilities.

Ruth Jefferson, chief executive of Wessex Water, said: “Andy has made an outstanding contribution to Wessex Water over more than three decades, and it has been a great pleasure to work alongside him.”

Eadie takes on the role at a challenging time for the water sector and Wessex Water in particular. The company is facing heightened scrutiny over sewage discharges, regulatory requirements to improve environmental performance, restrictions on bill increases and questions over executive pay.

At the same time, it is delivering a £3bn investment programme aimed at upgrading infrastructure, reducing storm overflows and meeting tougher environmental standards.

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