# Yorkshire Water chief to leave after lowest environmental rating

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/yorkshire-water-boss-resigns-after-firm-downgraded/
- Published: 2026-10-30T09:07:38+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-30T09:13:09+00:00
- Original publisher: feeds.bbci.co.uk (publisher lean: Centre)
- Original article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckzd623pldqgo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
- Topics: Business, Companies, Markets, Sheffield

## Key points

- Nicola Shaw will step down on 1 January.
- Yorkshire Water received the lowest environmental rating.
- The company recorded 260 pollution incidents in 2025.

## Summary

Yorkshire Water chief executive Nicola Shaw will leave her post on 1 January, with Nicola Medalova set to take over after a transition period. The resignation was announced a day after the company received the Environment Agency’s lowest possible environmental rating, adding to pressure over its performance.

Shaw has led the company since 2022 and faced criticism over £1.3m in previously undisclosed shareholder-funded payments, which she later said it was a mistake not to disclose. The Environment Agency recorded 260 pollution incidents linked to Yorkshire Water in 2025, its highest total since 2011, while Ofwat fined the company £47m in 2024 over historic sewage leaks.

## Coverage

- [feeds.bbci.co.uk: Yorkshire Water chief to leave after lowest environmental rating](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckzd623pldqgo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss)
- [The Star (Sheffield): Yorkshire Water boss steps down after Environment Agency gives utilities firm lowest possible rating](https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/uk-news/yorkshire-water-boss-steps-down-after-environment-agency-gives-utilities-firm-lowest-possible-rating-9319647)

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.