Our Board

The Rt Hon. John Gummer, Lord Deben, Chairman of the Veolia Water UK board

The Rt. Hon John Gummer, Lord Deben was the longest serving Secretary of State for the Environment the UK has ever had. His sixteen years of top-level ministerial experience included Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Minster for London, Employment Minister and Paymaster General in HM Treasury. In two hundred years, only five others have held so long a period of office.

His experience as an international negotiator has earned him worldwide respect both in the business community and among environmentalists. In consecutive years, the BBC unprecedentedly awarded him the title "Parliamentarian who did most for the Environment Internationally", while the NGO community called him "the best Environment Secretary we have ever had". He has consistently championed a via media between business and environmental concerns. To that end, he set up and now runs Sancroft, a Corporate Responsibility consultancy working with blue-chip companies around the world on environmental, social and ethical issues.

Since leaving office he has been Chairman of the Marine Stewardship Council, Chairman of the International Commission on Sustainable Consumption and Non-Executive Director of Kidde Plc. He is currently Chairman of Sancroft International, Valpak Ltd. and Chairman of the Association of Independent Financial Advisors.

In December 2005 David Cameron appointed him Chairman of the Quality of Life Commission. The Quality of Life report, "Blueprint for a Green Economy", was launched in September 2007.

Olivier Bret, Chief Executive Officer for UK, Ireland and Northern Europe

Olivier Bret is a graduate of l'Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées and French Business School, H.E.C. Olivier started his career in 1987 at international oil and gas company, Total, before moving into international strategic management as a consultant and manager at A.T. Kearney.

Olivier joined Veolia Water in 1992 as special advisor to the Chief Executive Officer before becoming Director of Profit Centre in Ile de France overseeing the merger of 7 entities, business development, contract negotiation, P&L responsibility and moving on to become Director of Municipal Markets.

Following a period at Dydesys combining senior management consulting and industrial investment activity, building the offering for third party services in telecoms and electronics, Olivier returned to Veolia Water to assume the first of several senior roles. From 2003, Olivier took up appointments in Brussels as Director, Benelux region and then Director of Northern Europe before moving to London in 2008 to assume the role of Deputy Chief Executive Officer for UK, Ireland and Northern Europe. Olivier was appointed as Chief Executive Officer for UK, Ireland and Northern Europe in 2011.

Olivier is also former chairman of "Ingénieur Sans Frontière", an independent humanitarian organisation.

Andrew Dench, Chief Financial Officer, Veolia Water UK, Ireland and Northern Europe & Managing Director Veolia Water UK Group Services & Deputy Chief Executive Officer Veolia Water UK, Ireland and Northern Europe

Andrew is CFO of Veolia Water UK, Ireland and Northern Europe having joined in June 2010. In May 2011, he was also appointed Managing Director of VWUK Group Services and has responsibility for the majority of non-operational support functions including IT, HR, Legal, Procurement, Health and Safety, and Transactional Processing in addition to his CFO duties.

Andrew studied at Oxford and Glasgow Universities as well as Strathclyde Graduate Business School. Prior to joining Veolia he spent more than 15 years working in corporate finance advisory with Morgan Stanley, and more latterly, with Credit Suisse.

Michael Butcher, Chief Legal Officer and Company Secretary

As Chief Legal Officer of Veolia Water UK PLC, Michael Butcher set up its Legal Department and is responsible for all advice given in respect of Veolia Water's interests in water businesses in the UK and Ireland. Michael also co-ordinates legal affairs for the UK interests of Veolia Environnement.

Previously Michael helped set up Central Railway PLC as Managing Director and General Counsel. Prior to that, he was Group Legal Director and Company Secretary for Eurotunnel, in charge of setting up and running the legal function.

Following qualification as a barrister, Michael joined the legal department of Esso UK and over thirteen years, was involved with Exxon assignments on the continent and in the USA.

Michael is President of the Franco-British Lawyers Society, a Consultant to Triplet & Associés and Reynolds Porter Chamberlain and is involved with Central Railway.

Nigel Paterson, Chief Operating Officer, Veolia Water UK, Ireland and Northern Europe

As Senior Executive and Chief Operating Officer for Veolia Water in the UK, Ireland and Northern Europe, Nigel Paterson is responsible for the company's operational performance, managing the newly formed capability centres, as well as having overall technical and operational accountability and playing a key role in the strategic development of the company and implementing change.

With 30 years experience in the water industry, Nigel previously held several senior positions within Thames Water including roles as Senior Executive Director for Thames Water Services, Commercial Operations Director, Commercial Development Manager and Process Engineering Manager for Thames Water capital projects. Nigel's early career commenced with construction contractors.

Nigel's solid background in engineering, operations and business strategy led to him being responsible for managing a portfolio of contracts and technical support services across the UK and overseas, including major PFI contracts. Nigel has also been responsible for managing various capital delivery functions, strategic business plans, and asset management. His innovative approach to problem solving is a core skill.

Nigel is a Chartered Civil Engineer.

Richard Bienfait, Managing Director, Veolia Water Central

Richard Bienfait was appointed the Managing Director of Veolia Water Central in March 2010. Richard is also a member of the Board of Veolia Water UK.

Richard began his career with Veolia Water in 1997 when he joined as Group Financial Controller. After undertaking various roles within Veolia Water UK's operations, Richard joined the Board of Veolia Water UK in 2004 and was Chief Financial Officer until 2010.

Richard read Economics at Exeter University before starting his career with accountants Ernst & Young.

Richard is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and an associate member of the Association of Corporate Treasurers.

Philippe Guitard, Executive Vice President Europe, Veolia Water

Following his graduation as an Engineer at Polytech Montpellier in 1984, Philippe Guitard started his career as a Projects Engineer - Head of Industrial Water in SOGEA (CGE group). He later became Operations Engineer in Bergerac, followed by an appointment as Head of Branch in Mandelieu La Napouleand Cagnes sur Mer in the water and ozone supply company.

Philippe joined the Compagnie Générale des Eaux in 1995 as Regional Director in Ponce, Puerto Rico and in 1997 he moved to the Czech Republic as a Director of the Vodarna Plzen subsidiary. In 1999 he was appointed Managing Director of Veolia Water in the Czech Republic and in 2002 he became Managing Director of Veolia Water for Central Europe and Russia.

On 15 April 2008 he was appointed Director of Veolia Water for Europe (excluding France).

Etienne Petit, Executive Vice President, Europe

After graduating with a Masters degree in Finance Management, he held financial and management positions before joining the Veolia Water group in 1995 as Deputy Finance Director for Asia, Eastern and Southern Europe.

Between July 2002 and June 2008, Etienne was Executive Vice President for Central Europe and Russia before becoming Executive Vice President for Europe. Etienne joined the Board for Veolia Water UK PLC in June 2008.

Jean-Dominique Mallet, Chief Executive Officer, Veolia Environmental Services UK

Jean-Dominique Mallet is Chief Executive Officer of Veolia Environmental Services in the United Kingdom, and Executive Vice President of Veolia Environmental Services.

Jean-Dominique was appointed to this position in June 2007 in addition to his responsibilities as Executive Vice-President for Northern Europe and Australia. Jean-Dominique is also a member of the company's Executive Committee and retains responsibility for its technical and greenhouse gas departments.

Jean-Dominique joined the Veolia Environnement group in 1990. He is highly experienced in the waste management sector having moved to the waste management arm of Veolia Environnement in 1994. Prior to his promotion, Jean-Dominique supervised the company's activities in Australia, Africa, Middle East and Southern Europe.

Jean-Dominique started his career at Continental Illinois Bank, Chicago and then B.A.I.I. Bank in Paris where he headed the commercial banking department before joining the construction group of Compagnie Générale des Eaux. He holds a Masters in civil engineering from ESTP, a Masters of Economics from La Sorbonne and an MBA for the University of Notre Dame (USA).

David Alexander, Non-Executive Director

A Chartered Engineer, Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers and Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management, David Alexander has 38 years experience of the water supply industry and currently holds the post of Non-Executive Director of Veolia Water UK PLC and Veolia Water Central.

David retired from his position of Managing Director of Veolia Water UK PLC in December 2007. Previous appointments included Managing Director of Veolia Water Central and Managing Director of North Surrey Water Ltd. He is also Master of the Worshipful Company of Plumbers.