WATER CHIEF TO LEAVE

Following 15 years with the company, seven as Managing Director, Margaret Devlin is leaving to start a new life in New Zealand with husband Michael. She leaves the Haywards Heath based company, which serves much of East Sussex, at the end of May.

Her planned move to the southern hemisphere marks the end of an illustrious career in the water industry.

Born and brought up in Belfast, she gained an Honours Degree in Business Studies and Finance at the University of Ulster, and began working life as an area manager with Maples, a furniture retailer.

The move into the world of water followed as Customer Services Manager for Eastbourne Water in 1990. When Eastbourne Water merged with Mid-Sussex and West Kent water companies in 1992 to form South East Water, Margaret was appointed overall Customer Services Manager, and then took responsibility for all regulatory aspects of the business.

A promotion to General Manager followed after four years, with another step up to Deputy Managing Director a year later. Then, in March 1999, she was appointed Managing Director.

She said: "I have enjoyed a fantastic career with South East Water and have been delighted to work in such an interesting and challenging sector as the water industry. I have met many interesting people and had tremendous support over the years from people who work both inside and outside of the industry.

"Futhermore, it has been a pleasure to work with and lead such dedicated staff that have helped the company continue to deliver excellent drinking water quality and improved customer service for our 1.5 million customers.

"While it will be incredibly hard to leave South East Water, I am also excited at the prospect of starting a new, more relaxed, life in New Zealand."

In addition to leading South East Water, Margaret was Chairman of the Water UK Council in 2005 and was National President of the Institution of Water Officers in 2004.

And with a keen eye on the forecast for the droughts ahead, she was a founder member of Waterwise, which promotes water efficiency, and sat on the Government-led task force, the Water Saving Group.

In her 'spare' time Margaret has been chairman of the Sussex Institute of Directors and a non-executive director of the Valuation Office, a department of Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs where she also chaired their audit committee.

South East Water is currently undertaking a recruitment process to appoint a new Managing Director.