[03
AUG 00] SEVERN
TRENT NEWS
New Chief Executive At Severn Trent
A
new man has been appointed at the helm of Severn Trent plc, the firm
responsible for water in Coventry and Warwickshire.
Robert
Walker has taken over as the new Group Chief Executive replacing Vic
Cocker CBE who has retired after 26 years with the company.
Robert
Walker, a former Division President at PepsiCo International has been
Deputy Group Chief Executive of Severn Trent Plc since July 1999 and
was previously a non-executive Director of Severn Trent Plc.
Severn
Trent Group covers 15 subsidiary firms, including Severn Trent Water.
It
has expanded under Mr Cocker during his six years as Chief Executive.
The
firm transformed from a regional water company into an international
environmental services business which now employs almost 15,000 people
in the UK, the US and Europe.
Mr
Walker's extensive international and commercial experience will be
used to drive Severn Trent's non-regulated businesses, which are
expected to generate over 50% of the total Group turnover in the
current year.
Severn
Trent Plc Chairman David Arculus said:
"Under
Vic Cocker, Severn Trent has seen significant change. Vic has made
an enormous contribution to the Group's development and to the water
industry.
"He
has been instrumental in creating the diversified environmental
services business we see today.
"I
welcome Robert Walker who has an outstanding track record in
international business management and will bring a wealth of skill
and experience to Severn Trent.
"He
will take over the top position as the company and the industry
enters a new era with the introduction of competition in the water
sector, and Severn Trent’s increasing emphasis on non-regulated
business operations."
Mr
Walker said:
"I
look forward to taking over as Group Chief Executive at this
exciting time in the industry.
"There
are many opportunities in the new competitive marketplace and I
believe we can build Severn Trent into a world leader in
environmental services.
"I
would like to acknowledge the work of Vic Cocker in building Severn
Trent into the outstanding company I now have the privilege of
leading."
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