Helping energy, water, cleantech and infrastructure organisations appoint resilient, customer-led leaders who deliver under regulatory, operational and transformation pressure.
The Utilities sector is operating under unprecedented scrutiny. Regulatory reform, infrastructure investment, net zero commitments, affordability pressures, digital transformation and rising customer expectations are all converging at once.
Douglas Jackson partners with regulated utilities to appoint senior leaders and critical specialists who can operate confidently in this environment. We support Executive, Board and Professional Search across Operations, Customer, CX, Transformation, Data, Digital, Finance, and Corporate Services, placing leaders who don’t just navigate complexity, but strengthen resilience, performance and trust.
Trusted by PE-backed, publicly owned and regulated utilities during periods of growth, transformation and regulatory change.
Why Utilities Leaders Choose Douglas Jackson
Utilities leaders come to Douglas Jackson when the cost of getting leadership wrong is simply too high. In highly regulated, customer-critical environments, senior appointments must stand up to scrutiny, from Boards, regulators, customers, investors and colleagues alike.
Deep Utilities & Regulated Environment Experience
Leaders Who Can Deliver, Not Just Impress
Executive and Professional Search Under One Roof
A Rigorous, Human, Risk-Managed Search Process
We work extensively across energy, water and infrastructure, supporting organisations operating under regulatory oversight, complex asset bases and heightened customer accountability. Our experience spans publicly owned, PE-backed and investor-led utilities, often during periods of change, growth or intervention.
Utilities leadership requires more than technical expertise. We assess for operational judgement, stakeholder management, regulatory confidence and the ability to lead large, unionised or dispersed workforces, ensuring leaders can perform in role, not just interview well.
Unlike many executive-only firms, Douglas Jackson supports both Executive Search and senior Professional Search. This allows us to build complete leadership and capability layers across Operations, Customer Experience, Transformation, Digital, Data, Insight, Planning and Corporate Services, not just the top roles in isolation.
Our Impact 360 methodology combines behavioural assessment, sector intelligence and high-touch stakeholder engagement. Every search is designed to improve long-term success, retention and cultural fit, not just speed of hire.
In regulated utilities, leadership failure isn’t just costly, it’s visible. Our role is to help clients make appointments they can stand behind with confidence.”
Executive & Senior Leadership Roles We Support in Utilities
Utilities organisations need strong leadership at the top, supported by credible, business-critical specialists beneath. Douglas Jackson supports both Executive Search and senior Professional Search, ensuring leadership teams are joined up, resilient and fit for the challenges of regulated, customer-critical environments.
Executive and Board Level Appointments
Senior Functional & Professional Leadership Roles
Alongside executive appointments, we recruit senior functional leaders and subject matter experts who are critical to day-to-day delivery, performance and regulatory confidence.
We support the appointment of senior executives and board members responsible for setting direction, managing risk, and leading under scrutiny.
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Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
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Chief Operating Officer (COO)
- Chief Finance Officer (CFO)
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Chief Customer Officer (CCO) / Customer & Experience Directors
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Chief Transformation Officer / Transformation Directors
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Chief Digital / Technology / Information Officers
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SVP/Directors (Operations, Customer, Metering/Logistics/Water/Energy)
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Non-Executive Directors (NEDs) and Board Advisors
Operations & Delivery
Customer, CX & Complaints, Metering
Transformation, Digital & Change
Asset Field and Network Logistics
Data, Insight, Strategic, Resource Planning & AI
Corporate & Enabling Functions
Many of our searches sit at the intersection of regulation, operations, customer and technology, where traditional role definitions no longer apply. We help clients define the role as well as hire the leader.
How We Work with Utilities Organisations
In regulated utilities, leadership appointments are rarely straightforward. They involve multiple stakeholders, regulatory oversight, operational risk and long-term accountability. Our approach is designed to reduce risk, improve decision-making and deliver leaders who succeed in role, not just on paper.
A rigorous, risk-managed search process
Every Utilities assignment is delivered through our Impact 360 search methodology. It combines sector insight, behavioural assessment and high-touch stakeholder engagement to ensure every appointment is right for the role, the organisation and the operating environment.
In Utilities, leadership decisions are highly visible. Our process is designed to stand up to scrutiny long after the appointment is made.
Utilities Sectors We Work With
We work with utilities organisations operating in complex, regulated and customer-critical environments. Our experience spans different ownership models, regulatory regimes and stages of organisational maturity.
Energy and Power
Water and Wastewater
Infrastructure and Essential Services
Trusted by Utilities Leaders
Our clients partner with us when leadership appointments carry high visibility, regulatory scrutiny and long-term impact.
Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusive Leadership in Utilities
Diversity is not a ‘nice to have’ in Utilities leadership. It directly impacts decision-making, organisational resilience, customer trust and long-term performance in highly scrutinised, regulated environments.
At Douglas Jackson, diversity and inclusion are embedded into how we work. Alongside our search activity, we actively support and contribute to industry initiatives that promote greater representation, accessibility and progression for women and under-represented leaders across Utilities and customer-critical sectors.
This includes voluntary involvement and advocacy through Women’s Utility Network, POWERful Women, Women in Water, and Women in Customer Experience.
Our commitment goes beyond representation. We work with clients to challenge traditional hiring assumptions, broaden talent pools and appoint leaders based on capability, impact and potential, helping Utilities organisations build leadership teams that better reflect the communities and customers they serve.
Chief Customer Officer, SES Water
CEO Valda Energy
Director of Operations Energy Ombudsman - Hannah Harrison
Chief Purpose Officer Dr Elizabeth Blakelock
Former Director of Residential Services and COO E.On Damian Kirk
Rob Sawle, Director of Utilities, at Sigma Connected Group
We are proud of our long-term client relationships and high retention rates across Utilities leadership appointments.
It has been very easy working with you, and you have put forward such great candidates, it has been a pleasure meeting them. We will certainly be using you again – you are fab!”
“I think it's been more of a customer service that you've given us rather than that what I'll call that stereotypical headhunting agency, which is just the CV's. You've kept us informed all the way through and not backed down on the diversity challenge that we’d given you because that's quite easy. Sometimes you can go, look, I just can't find that person"
“You’ve done a stonking job with this search Holly, I think we’re really going to struggle to choose.”
Why it matters to you - at a glance
Hours
Retention Rate
Diversity
Years Experience
Success
Renewables
Water
Nuclear
Energy
Electric
Cleantech
Client Success Case Studies
Chief Customer Officer
VP EMEA Utilities
Non Executive Directors
Chief Finance Officer
Whether you are planning a senior Utilities appointment, responding to regulatory pressure, strengthening operational leadership or preparing for transformation, choosing the right search partner matters.
Douglas Jackson works alongside Utilities leaders as a trusted advisor — helping you define the role, challenge assumptions and appoint leaders who can deliver in complex, highly scrutinised environments.
All conversations are confidential.
Utility Leadership Articles and Insight.
A snapshot of Utility leadership articles and insight which feature in The Utilities Leadership Pulse - A headhunters guide to leadership, with tips, news & thoughts for business & individuals across the Utilities industry.
We would like to celebrate the remarkable achievements of our own Holly Beeston, who was recently honored at the Great British Businesswoman awards ceremony for her finalist nomination in the Businesswomen of the Year, Utilities category.
The awards, sponsored by Stella Insurance featured over 600 submissions from women across various industry sectors, a shortlist of 200 finalists and then 23 winners were selected
Our Managing Partner, Michelle Ansell joined Holly to show her support, immense pride and to help celebrate Holly's fabulous achievement.
Michelle said "Holly has had a fantastic year this last year, delivering against some really tough recruitment assignments, she has continued to work with some amazing brands and business and the individuals she has supported in their new careers have made significant impacts across the Utilities sector: Energy, Gas, Water, Renewables, BPO and Tech. Holly is passionate about Diversity and has also been an active member and advocate for WUN - Womens Utilities Network helping to further the opportunities available to women across the sector, she has spoken to aspirational female leaders at Women on Boards and the Institute of Water
Many congratulations and well done to Holly from all the team.