Waitī Waters is delighted to announce the appointment of Paul Floyd as its inaugural Chief Executive, marking a homecoming to New Zealand and the Wairarapa after an impressive international career in the water and energy sectors.

 

Mr Floyd, whose family is based in Greytown, returns to New Zealand after fifteen years in senior international executive roles across the energy and water utility companies. He is currently Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Shamal Az-Zour Al-Oula in Kuwait, a publicly listed company operating the country's first privately owned combined cycle power and water desalination plant, which supplies around 10 per cent of Kuwait's power and 20 per cent of its fresh water.

 

An engineer by training, his career spans infrastructure, asset management and project delivery roles in New Zealand, Australia, the Middle East and North Africa, including senior positions with Contact Energy in New Zealand, Sumitomo Corporation's global power business, and as an adviser to Kuwait's Ministry of Electricity and Water, where he established the department responsible for delivering the country's public-private power and water programme.

 

Alongside deep technical understanding of the operations of utility companies, Mr Floyd brings demonstrated strong commercial acumen, proven ability to manage large operating and capital budgets, and a commitment to best-practice investment decision making – all of which will be essential to ensure Waitī Waters is the financially sustainable, efficient organisation customers, Councils and iwi partners expect.

 

“I could not be more excited to lead Waitī Waters,” Mr Floyd said. “I've spent my career delivering the essential services communities depend on, and there is no greater privilege than bringing that experience home. Water is a critical essential service and I'm looking forward to building an organisation this region can be proud of, and to working alongside the region’s communities, our iwi partners, Rangitāne and Ngāti Kahungunu, and Councils from day one.”

 

Waitī Waters Board Chair Adrienne Young-Cooper said the appointment followed a highly competitive recruitment process.

 

“The calibre of applicants for this role was exceptional, which speaks to the significance of what we are building here,” she said. “To bring talent home to New Zealand to contribute to the national water reform effort and secure someone of Paul's experience is an outstanding result. He brings world-class expertise in managing critical water and infrastructure assets, together with a genuine passion for the Wairarapa and Tararua region. We are absolutely delighted to have him on board as we enter this important establishment phase.”

 

Mr Floyd will take up the role on 19 October 2026.

 

ENDS