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Meet our executive team

  • Louise Beardmore

    Career experience:

    Louise became CEO of United Utilities in March 2023, bringing to the board a wealth of experience leading utility and infrastructure businesses both in the UK and internationally.

    Louise has worked in the United Utilities group for more than 20 years, in both water and electricity environments, with a strong track record in driving transformational change and service improvements for the benefits of customers, stakeholders and the environment.

    Louise’s strategic vision and relentless customer focus will continue to drive improved services for the benefit of all stakeholders in the North West.

    Other roles:

    • Non-executive director of Water UK
    • Non-executive director of Water Plus Limited – joint venture with Severn Trent
    • Vice President of Institute of Customer Service
    • Northern Power Women – ‘Power List’
    • Non-executive director of the UK Engage for Success Foundation
    • Member of the 30% Club

  • Phil AspinCareer experience:

    Phil has extensive financial and regulatory experience across multiple utility businesses and was appointed CFO of United Utilities in July 2020.  Benefiting from more than 25 years’ experience in the two principal finance roles of Group Controller and Group Treasurer, Phil leads all aspects of technical finance and corporate governance faced by a FTSE 100 listed business. 

    He is both a chartered accountant and a Fellow of the Association of Corporate Treasurers and previously a member of the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group from 2015-2020 and chair of its Rate Regulated Activities Working Group.

    Other roles:

    • Board member UK Endorsement Board
    • Chair of Pensions Committee, The 100 Group 
    • Non-executive director of Water Plus Limited – joint venture with Severn Trent

  • James BullockCareer experience:

    As Strategy, Policy and Regulation Director at United Utilities, James has lead accountability on all economic regulation strategy and compliance issues as well as being programme director for the quinquennial price reviews.

    James has extensive experience of investment banking, corporate advisory, consultancy, government regulation and the sectoral trade association from his previous roles at Ofcom, ABN AMRO, PwC and at Water UK.

    A Chartered Accountant and economist, James is responsible for regulatory reporting and compliance for company obligations set and enforced by Ofwat, key regulatory submissions including the company’s price review and leading regulatory and compliance strategies.

  • Simon GardinerCareer experience:

    Simon has been General Counsel and Company Secretary of United Utilities since 2011 and has overall responsibility for any legal, governance and compliance issues affecting United Utilities. United Utilities has won or been shortlisted on numerous reporting rewards over the years, including at the PwC Building Public Trust Awards and CGI/ICSA. Simon also leads the legal and company secretariat functions and is also responsible for cyber and physical security governance and compliance across the group.

    Simon completed a law conversion course having graduated from Cambridge University in Modern Languages. He joined United Utilities as head of group legal in 2002 from global engineering group GKN, having previously qualified as a solicitor at law firm Osborne Clarke. Since January this year, Simon was elected Chair of GC100, the association for the general counsel and company secretaries of companies in the UK FTSE 100.

    Other roles:

    •   Chair of GC100 and co-chair of its competition law work stream

  • Mike GauterinCareer experience:

    Mike joined United Utilities in January 2023, bringing with him a wealth of experience in service, commercial and supply chain from over 20 years working in the Infrastructure and Telecommunications industries as well as being a chartered Arbitrator.

    Previously Managing Director of Customer Service for BT’s Enterprise division, Mike was responsible for all business to business services, delivering the 999 service and providing customer services to over £6bn of revenue - a role he won Customer Experience leader of the year for in 2022. Prior to this, Mike was responsible for all supply chain operations of the BT Group and then also led the Civil Engineering and Supplier Management strategy for Openreach. Before BT, Mike worked as a Commercial Director for Balfour Beatty – building on an early career in commercial management. 

  • Neil GillespieCareer experience:

    Neil leads the CEO Office and is responsible for several cross-business transformation projects, operational excellence, innovation and data, as well as leading the Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience Programme (HARP) – a pathfinder project under Ofwat’s Direct Procurement for Customers methodology.

    Neil is a chartered engineer with extensive experience in the utilities sector, having previously worked at British Gas, Transco and Accenture before joining United Utilities in 2005. He has led on numerous strategic projects, including the separation of the non-regulated business, preparing the business for retail competition, establishing a renewable energy business and leading on its national water trading programme. 

  • Jo HarrisonCareer experience:

    Jo is accountable for leading United Utilities’ strategy and planning activities for the business for the next 25 years, including developing and strengthening the company’s approach to asset management, catchment planning, resilience, climate change, sustainability and the wider environment.

    Jo is an environmental scientist and has worked in a variety of operational, planning and strategic roles for United Utilities over the last 25 years. Before joining the company she worked in environmental consultancy. Jo is a chartered member of CIWEM and a Chartered Environmentalist through the Society for the Environment.

  • Matt Hemmings – Chief Operating OfficerCareer experience:

    Matt was appointed as Chief Operating Officer in September 2024. A proficient senior leader, with extensive experience in digital transformation, complex asset management and service excellence. Matt is responsible for operational performance across water, wastewater and bio resources.

    Prior to joining United Utilities, Matt held principal roles within several sectors consisting of corporate banking, telecoms and housing. Prior to joining United Utilities, he was managing director fibre and network delivery of Openreach, part of the BT Group. He is a former non-executive director at Trafford Housing Trust.

    Other roles:

    • Great Places Housing Group Limited – Non-executive Director
    • Terra Nova Developments Limited – Non-executive Director

  • Gaynor KenyonCareer experience:

    A communications and public affairs specialist, responsible for the company’s internal and external communications, public affairs, media, corporate responsibility and stakeholder engagement strategies, Gaynor joined United Utilities from what was then international multi utility company ScottishPower.

    Operating in the energy, electricity and water sectors during a period of mergers, acquisitions and divestments in the UK and US, Gaynor was Government and Community Affairs Director at ScottishPower, and responsible for integrating its CR strategy and reporting across the six US states where it operated. Prior to her career in utilities, Gaynor was a senior communications adviser to a number of UK central Government departments, having begun her career as a newspaper journalist. 

    Other roles:

    • North West Business Leadership Team board member

  • Adrienne McFarlandCareer experience:

    Adrienne joined United Utilities in 2022 as People Director. Prior to that Adrienne was Chief People Officer before being promoted to Chief Operating Officer at Newcastle University where her remit included Digital, H&S Property and Estates Management.

    Adrienne has held a variety of senior HR roles, including at Utilitywise plc, Nestle UK Ltd and as interim Group Chief People Officer at The Sage Group plc, a FTSE 100 business. Her track record is about innovating, shaping and delivering the people strategy in key enabling areas such as employer brand, talent acquisition, inclusion, leadership development and reward, and working with CEOs and senior business leaders to achieve delivery of organisational goals and maximum performance through people.

    Other roles:

    • Member of the Delivery Board for the Energy and Utilities Skills Partnership
    • Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Personnel and Development

  • Jane SimpsonCareer experience:

    Jane was appointed as Commercial, Engineering and Capital Delivery Director in 2023, responsible for the commercial directorate as well as Engineering and Capital Delivery division, to deliver the company’s £2 billion capital programme.

    Before joining United Utilities, Jane was Operations Director at Royal Mail, responsible for the north of the UK’s field operations, Capital Delivery Director at Severn Trent Water, and the first female Chief Engineer at Network Rail. 

    In May 2016 Jane was nominated into the Top 20 inspirational women in rail, in July 2016 she was included in the Daily Telegraph’s Top 50 women in Engineering and in 2017 was in the Financial Times and Cranwell’s 100 women to watch.  

    Other roles:

    • Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology
    • Board Member of Northern Marine Group
    • Trustee to the Scout Association