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The chief executive of Ofwat is to step down within months as Britain’s embattled water regulator prepares to be abolished by ministers.
Sky News has learnt that David Black is preparing to leave Ofwat following discussions with its board, led by chairman Iain Coucher.
The timing of Mr Black’s exit was unclear on Tuesday afternoon, although sources said he was likely to go in the near future.
An official announcement could come within days, according to industry sources.
Insiders say the relationship between Mr Coucher and Mr Black has been under strain for some time.
Water industry executives said that Steve Reed, the environment secretary, repeatedly referred to the regulator’s leadership during a meeting last month.
It was unclear on Tuesday who would replace Mr Black, or whether an interim chief executive would remain in place until Ofwat is formally scrapped.
The complexity of the impending regulatory shake-up means that Ofwat might not be formally abolished until at least 2027.
Mr Black took over as Ofwat’s permanent boss in April 2022, having held the position on an interim basis for the previous 12 months.
He has worked for the water regulator in various roles since 2012.
If confirmed, Mr Black’s departure will come with Britain’s privatised water industry and its regulator mired in crisis.
Water companies are under increasing pressure from Mr Reed, the environment secretary, over their award of executive bonuses even as the number of serious pollution incidents has soared.
The UK’s biggest water utility, Thames Water, meanwhile, is on the brink of being temporarily nationalised through a special administration regime as it tries to secure a private sector bailout led by its creditors.
In a review published last month, the former Bank of England deputy governor Sir Jon Cunliffe recommended that Ofwat be scrapped.
He urged the government to replace it with a new body which would also incorporate the Drinking Water Inspectorate and absorb…
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