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Yorkshire Water CEO Nicola Shaw resigns after one-star downgrade

By Drooid · Oct 30, 2026 · How we work

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Summary

Yorkshire Water chief executive Nicola Shaw resigns after four-and-a-half years.
The resignation follows the Environment Agency’s downgrade of Yorkshire Water to a one-star rating.
The one-star rating blocks Yorkshire Water from paying executive bonuses.
Former National Grid executive Nicola Medalova will become CEO designate on 2 November, assuming the role on 1 January 2027.
Yorkshire Water was fined £47 million in 2024 and £1.215 million in 2025 for sewage leaks.

Summary

Local councillors warn the downgrade threatens East Yorkshire tourism and demand faster water-quality action.
Yorkshire Water pledged an £8.3 billion investment through 2030, funded mainly by customer bills.
£1.5 billion of the plan targets storm-overflow upgrades to cut sewage discharges.
Hornsea campaigner David Rhodes discussed a £5 million storage tank for the 2027-2028 budget.
Yorkshire Water reported 99 percent compliance with permitted sewage and water-treatment discharges in 2025.

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Nicola Shaw Resigns

Yorkshire Water chief executive Nicola Shaw resigns after four-and-a-half years.
The resignation follows the Environment Agency’s downgrade of Yorkshire Water to a one-star rating.
The one-star rating blocks Yorkshire Water from paying executive bonuses.
Former National Grid executive Nicola Medalova will become CEO designate on 2 November, assuming the role on 1 January 2027.
Yorkshire Water was fined £47 million in 2024 and £1.215 million in 2025 for sewage leaks.

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