Keith is a water industry expert who for more than 30 years has managed, invested in, and advised on infrastructure and utility services businesses, predominantly in the sectors for water, waste management, energy networks and renewables.

Much of Keith’s early career was at Wessex Water, where he was deputy CEO and CFO, and held a series of senior management and board positions between 1995 and 2010. He led four successful price controls and, arguably, was instrumental in making Wessex Water one of the most highly regarded and innovative companies in the sector, consistently delivering some of the highest levels of customer and environmental performance.

In executive roles, Keith has advised on numerous M&A transactions, worked extensively in the equity and debt markets, built businesses from start-ups, and revitalised a number of underperforming companies. He was global Head of Regulation for ENRON/Azurix, working in M&A and on regulatory policy around the world. He subsequently played a central role in restructuring the business, disposing of its assets, and unwinding its multiple financial instruments.

Keith has governance and management experience of major equity-owned, semi-state, and government-controlled companies. In his NED roles he has been a member of all major board committees. He has been an Advisory Board member of Buckthorn Partners, a member of various regulatory panels, a trustee of a major pension fund, Director of WaterUK, chairman of a number of technology firms and contractors, Vice Chairman of NRR, and a Board and Audit Committee member of the RAC. He has advised water industry regulator WICS, given evidence to parliamentary committees and the Competition Commission, and has worked frequently with the media.

Today, Keith’s plural career allows him to provide strategic, financial, regulatory and crisis-management advice to governments, regulators, investors, banks and boards. As well as being an Oxera Associate, Keith is an iNED at Ervia (owner of Gas Networks Ireland, Irish Water, and Aurora Telecom), an investor director of South Staffordshire Plc, and an Industry Partner at AIP.

Oxera Associates are highly skilled independent experts who are recognised within a variety of sectors. These individuals have a wealth of knowledge within their fields, and our collaboration with them means that we can offer the best advice, inspiring our clients to make better decisions.