United Utilities Group PLC has announced the appointment of Clare Hayward as an independent non-executive director. On appointment, Clare will become a member of the Nomination Committee and the ESG Committee.
Having chaired both the NP11 group of northern local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) since June 2023, and the Cheshire and Warrington LEP since May 2020, having been a member of its board since 2015, Clare has worked with boards and senior management teams across the globe over the last 20 years in a variety of industry sectors, including technology, banking, natural resources, manufacturing and retail. She also co-founded and sold two highly successful international leadership consulting businesses and has established a strong reputation for championing the North West’s diverse communities and supporting social enterprises.
United Utilities’ Chair, Sir David Higgins, said:
“Clare has played a key role across Northern England fostering collaboration between the private and public sectors to boost economic growth and support job creation. She is a passionate advocate of our North West region and her vast experience of effective partnership working alongside her involvement with community interest and charity organisations is invaluable given our role at the heart of local communities. Her entrepreneurial background will bring a fresh approach to our board thinking and I am delighted she has accepted the role.”
Clare has strong links with central and local Government and as well as steering the two LEPs, she has been Deputy Lieutenant for Cheshire since 2013 and will begin her year’s appointment as The High Sheriff for Cheshire in April 2024. Her background is in strategy consulting and she was a co-founder of Cirrus, a leadership and talent consultancy, which was sold to Accenture in 2021, having previously co-founded Academee in 1993, developing it into a global leadership development consultancy before selling it to Oliver Wyman in 2008. Her considerable charity and community experience includes providing governance support as a Housing Trust board member and as a hospice ambassador, helping to create Hospice at Home in east Cheshire.
