Key facts
- Yorkshire Water received its lowest environmental rating from the Environment Agency.
- The company reported 260 pollution incidents in 2025.
- CEO Nicola Shaw will step down on January 1, 2027.
- Nicola Medalova will succeed Shaw as chief executive.
- Shaw received undisclosed payments totaling £1.9 million from 2023 to 2026.
Yorkshire Water's chief executive, Nicola Shaw, will step down on January 1, 2027, a day after the company received its lowest possible environmental rating from the Environment Agency. The firm was classified as 'poorly performing' after reporting 260 pollution incidents in 2025, the highest number since 2011. Shaw, who has led the company since 2022, faced criticism over her pay, including undisclosed payments totaling £1.9 million from 2023 to 2026. Nicola Medalova, a chartered environmental health officer, will replace Shaw.