The leadership transition follows Yorkshire Water receiving the lowest possible performance score from the Environment Agency after logging its highest pollution incident count since 2011. This regulatory downgrade builds on previous penalties, including a £47 million fine from Ofwat in 2024 related to historic sewage leaks. Former National Grid employee Nicola Medalova will begin a transition period immediately ahead of officially replacing Shaw on 1 January.
Key points
Incoming leader Nicola Medalova brings background experience as a chartered environmental…: Incoming leader Nicola Medalova brings background experience as a chartered environmental health officer and former National Grid employee.
Shaw faced public backlash after acknowledging she mistakenly took £1.3 million in undisc…: Shaw faced public backlash after acknowledging she mistakenly took £1.3 million in undisclosed, shareholder-funded payments.
The utility's 2025 pollution incidents reached their highest total recorded by the compan…: The utility's 2025 pollution incidents reached their highest total recorded by the company since 2011.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
- Published
Yorkshire Water's chief executive has announced she is to step down, just 24 hours after the company was given the lowest possible environmental rating by the Environment Agency
Nicola Shaw, who has led the firm since 2022, will leave the role on 1 January to be replaced by Nicola Medalova, a chartered environmental health officer who previously worked for the National Grid.
In a statement on Friday, Shaw said it had been a "privilege" to lead the company but that it was "the right time" to leave her post.
Shaw has faced criticism in recent years, including for for taking £1.3m in undisclosed payments between 2023 and 2025, while the company has come under scrutiny for its performance.
On Thursday, the Environment Agency gave the firm one star out of four - its lowest possible rating - meaning Yorkshire Water was classed as a "poorly performing company".
The EA said Yorkshire Water was responsible for 260 pollution incidents in 2025, which was its highest total since 2011.
In 2024, Ofwat announced it was fining the company £47m for…
Mounting regional instability across the Middle East has prompted Singapore Airlines to halt key Middle Eastern routes well past its original December deadline. The protracted suspension responds directly to rising security threats involving Israel, Iran, and Houthi combatants. Travelers on the affected schedules face extended travel disruptions, though the carrier is processing complete refunds for all unutilized bookings.
Hyderabad consumer protection authorities held both a dairy producer and a local shopkeeper accountable for health hazards caused by substandard cold chain maintenance. The forum emphasized that commercial food suppliers cannot deflect blame when retail storage failures compromise perishable dairy products before their stamped expiration date. Regulatory oversight now expands as national food safety inspectors evaluate the systemic storage lapses exposed by the contaminated purchase.
Heavy one-time costs during the second quarter weighed heavily on the pharmaceutical giant's bottom line despite healthy underlying demand. Meanwhile, commercial expansion remained solid as core operations generated double-digit sales gains across multiple regions. This resilient top-line performance highlights ongoing strength in the company's key prescription and international territories.