John Russell, UKRN CEO Appointed

Following the announcement by the Government of the creation of new integrated water regulator, David Black is stepping down as Ofwat’s Chief Executive and is ending his term as the UKRN Chief Executive

Today, UKRN is pleased to announce our new CEO as John Russell from the Single Source Regulations Office (SSRO).

Attricia Archer, UKRN Director said: “We would like to extend our sincere thanks to David Black for his leadership as CEO of the UK Regulators Network (UKRN) over the past year. David has made a significant contribution to strengthening collaboration across the regulatory community, and we are grateful for the time, energy, and expertise he has brought to the role. As David steps down, we are delighted to announce that John Russell, Chief Executive of the Single Source Regulations Office (SSRO), will be taking on the role of UKRN CEO. We look forward to working with John as he leads the network in the months ahead, continuing to foster collaboration and shared learning across our regulatory members and beyond..”

John Russell joined the SSRO as Chief Executive in July 2023. John was a Senior Director at Ofwat from 2016. He has also worked in Shell’s group strategy and business environment teams and had a long career in Whitehall where, amongst other roles, he was the Chief Operating Officer for Infrastructure UK and Deputy Director for Growth and Productivity in HM Treasury.

John Russell said: “I’m delighted to be picking up the baton from David as Chief Executive of UKRN. There is a clear need for UK regulators to work together effectively to tackle shared challenges across sectors and to support the Government’s goals of stimulating economic growth and investment. I’m excited to lead UKRN into its next phase, strengthening its vital role in delivering better regulatory outcomes through greater collaboration”.

Notes for media: The UK Regulators Network (UKRN) brings together regulators to collaborate to improve outcomes for consumers and the economy. Our member regulators cover a wide range of sectors and issues, including transport, utilities, communications, housing and financial services.