Yorkshire Water boss who took £1.3m in undisclosed payments steps down a day after the firm's one-star rating
Nicola Shaw, who acknowledged in December 2025 that "not being transparent" about the £1.3m payments had been wrong, will be succeeded by Nicola Medalova as chief executive-designate from Monday.
Nicola Shaw, who has led Yorkshire Water as chief executive since 2022, will leave on 1 January after the Environment Agency downgraded the company to a one-star environmental rating — its lowest possible score — the day before her departure was confirmed. The company recorded 335 pollution incidents in 2025, of which 13 were classified as serious, representing its worst environmental performance since 2011. Nicola Medalova, formerly a senior executive at National Grid, takes over as chief executive-designate from Monday before moving into the role fully in the new year.
Yorkshire Water was also fined £47m by Ofwat in 2024 for historic sewage leaks.
Under rules introduced last year, the one-star rating automatically prevents Yorkshire Water from paying executive bonuses.
Shaw acknowledged in December 2025 that "not being transparent" about the £1.3m payments had been wrong.
