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NI Water boss Trevor Haslett to step down | |
(40 minutes later) | |
By Jim Fitzpatrick Economics and business editor | |
The boss of Northern Ireland Water is poised to resign, the BBC has learned. | |
Trevor Haslett had been in the post for less than a year after the resignation of the previous boss in the midst of the Christmas and New Year water chaos. | Trevor Haslett had been in the post for less than a year after the resignation of the previous boss in the midst of the Christmas and New Year water chaos. |
Lawrence MacKenzie stood down amidst damning criticism of the company's handling of the water shortages during the big freeze last winter. | Lawrence MacKenzie stood down amidst damning criticism of the company's handling of the water shortages during the big freeze last winter. |
It is understood Mr Haslett has signalled that he wants to leave and return to private consultancy. | |
His imminent departure is understood to have taken company executives and directors by surprise with emergency meetings continuing on Wednesday. | |
Mr Haslett was formerly head of engineering with NI Water and previously worked as a director of a private civil engineering company. | |
He is the third chief executive to resign from the post. | |
As well as Mr MacKenzie in January, after what First Minister Peter Robinson described as the company's "shambolic" response to the big freeze, in 2008 Katherine Bryan resigned following controversy over a funding shortfall. | |
NI Water was created as a state-owned company in 2004 with Ms Bryan at the helm and its structure suggested that it would ultimately be privatised. | |
But the devolved government took a different view and the company has since been reformed as a non-departmental public body which means it falls under the control of the Department of Regional Development. | |
Previous boss Mr MacKenzie drew criticism for his level of pay, at £250,000. It is understood that Mr Haslett receives much less than that, closer to £130,000. | |
This disparity may make it more attractive for Mr Haslett to work in private consulting. | |
The pay cap - along with the perception of political interference - may also make it harder for Northern Ireland Water to recruit a new chief executive from outside the company. | |
NI Water denied that Mr Haslett had resigned, but said discussions with him on his future were ongoing. | |
During the Christmas water crisis 450,000 people were left without mains supply. | |
It cost the company £7.5m and at the height of the crisis, a million people phoned the NI Water helpline. |