12
www.utilityweek.co.uk/fLeX
N
igel Watson likes a challenge.
When we spoke before
Easter, he was gearing up to
run the London Marathon and
keeping his fingers crossed
for cooler weather after an
unseasonably warm spell.
"I'm not really built to run marathons,
but I have trained for it, so I'm going to
give it a go," says Northumbrian Water's
chief information officer.
"It's not going to be fast, but I'm hopeful
that I'll get round," he says with a calm
optimism. "I'm just hoping it's not too hot!"
Near ideal weather conditions and
gutsy determination saw Watson over
the finishing line in a very respectable
five hours and 23 minutes. But despite
his aches, Watson was back at his desk
in Durham the next day.
It's this kind of conviction and energy,
combined with crystal clear vision, that
Watson is putting to work to make
Northumbrian Water the "most digital
water company in the world".
"What we're trying to become is the
fastest learning water company on the
globe. And having the digital signals that
allow us to quickly pick up on the effects of
climate change, or the impact on customers,
is why we have that ambition."
Watson arrived at Northumbrian Water
in 2015 after seven-and-a-half years at
Vodafone. He was initially brought on board
as a consultant, and was then offered
the CIO role when his boss departed a
year later. His multi-varied career has
Northumbrian Water's
chief information officer
on the potential of AI and
digital twins and why
the company is spending
30 per cent of its
transformation budget
on its people
By Denise Chevin
I N T E R V I E W
N i g e l
Wa t s o n
