Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water has appointed Roch Cheroux as its next Chief Executive, with the former Sydney Water boss due to join the company on 6 October 2025. He will take over full leadership in early 2026 following the retirement of long-serving CEO Peter Perry.
Perry, who announced in April that he will step down next spring, has worked in the water industry for over 45 years. His departure comes at a turbulent time for the not-for-profit utility, with widespread concern over environmental failures, rising bills, and now, a major redundancy programme.
500 job losses confirmed
The announcement of up to 500 job losses over the next two years has sparked alarm among trade unions and community leaders. Critics warn that cutting a significant portion of the workforce could weaken essential frontline services such as leak repairs, sewage control, and environmental monitoring—areas where the company has already been under fire.
Unions have described the move as a blow to morale and say it raises serious questions about whether Dŵr Cymru can meet its performance targets while reducing its staff base so drastically.
The timing of the cuts—coinciding with a change in leadership—has only intensified scrutiny. Opposition politicians and campaigners are calling for greater transparency and urging the incoming CEO to set out how he plans to protect service levels amid the restructuring.
Leadership from overseas
Cheroux, a French national, has more than 30 years’ experience in the global water industry. His previous roles include leadership positions at South Australia Water, SUEZ, United Utilities Australia, Tallinn Water, and Bouygues.
Speaking about his new role, he said it was “a real privilege” to join a company with a clear public purpose and a not-for-profit model that prioritises communities. He said Welsh Water’s ambitious investment plans and proposed regulatory reforms made it an exciting time to come on board.
Jane Hanson CBE, Chair of Glas Cymru—which owns Dŵr Cymru—said Cheroux was selected following an international recruitment process involving candidates from Wales, the UK and beyond. She praised his record on customer service and operational delivery, calling him the best candidate to lead the company into its next phase.
Controversy in Australia
Cheroux’s appointment has not been without controversy. During his time at Sydney Water, he was strongly criticised by the Australian Services Union (ASU), which accused him of leading a period of outsourcing, poor worker consultation, and attempts to impose unfavourable changes to employment agreements.
The union also claimed his departure was not voluntary, with some reports suggesting he had been sacked by the board. The company did not publicly confirm the circumstances of his exit.
In Wales, political pressure is growing. The Welsh Liberal Democrats have called on Cheroux to publicly commit to maintaining Dŵr Cymru’s not-for-profit status and rule out any move towards water privatisation.
A company under pressure
Cheroux inherits a utility facing intense public scrutiny. Dŵr Cymru has been criticised for its environmental record, including high volumes of sewage discharges, widespread leaks, and missed performance targets. Executive pay has also been a point of contention, with outgoing CEO Peter Perry receiving £892,000 in total remuneration in 2021.
Campaigners say the new CEO must focus on cleaning up the company’s act—literally and figuratively—and that job cuts should not come at the expense of essential services.
With hundreds of livelihoods on the line, public trust at a low point, and political pressure mounting, the months ahead will be a key test of whether Welsh Water’s new leadership can truly deliver a better future for customers, workers and the environment.
