South Staffordshire Plc has announced new board appointments following a governance review, in a move aimed at reinforcing oversight and aligning leadership with long-term strategic priorities across its regulated and non-regulated businesses.
The company confirmed the immediate appointment of Steve Johnson, MBE, as Independent Non-executive Director and Chair of the South Staffordshire Water Board. At the same time, Sara Vaughan is appointed as Independent Non-executive Director and Deputy Chair of the Group Board, as well as Deputy Chair of the South Staffordshire Water Board.
South Staffordshire Water—comprising Cambridge Water and South Staffs Water—remains central to the Group’s portfolio, which also spans a wider range of infrastructure and essential service activities.
According to the company, the changes are designed to both streamline and reinforce governance arrangements while preserving clear independence between the Group and its operating companies. The appointments come amid ongoing transformation in the UK water sector, increasing regulatory scrutiny, and rising expectations from customers and stakeholders.
Johnson, who has chaired the Group Board since July 2018, brings over 35 years of experience in energy and utilities. His previous roles include Chief Executive Officer of Electricity North West, alongside senior positions at Morrison Utility Services and United Utilities. He has also served as a Non-executive Director at South West Water and chaired the Energy Networks Association. In his expanded role, he will oversee governance at South Staffordshire Water, supporting regulatory compliance, operational resilience, and customer delivery.
Vaughan’s appointment reflects her background in regulation and governance. A former competition and regulatory lawyer, she held senior roles at E.ON, including serving as a UK Board Executive Director. She currently chairs Elexon and is a Non-executive Director at the North Sea Transition Authority.
In her dual role, Vaughan is expected to strengthen coordination between Group and Water governance, while ensuring stakeholder perspectives remain central to decision-making.
