Simon Hatcher has been appointed managing director of Acciona Agua in Australia, effective 8 August 2011.
Hatcher replaces Jose Maria Ortega, who will return to Acciona head office in Madrid in October and retains overall responsibility for Acciona Agua’s business in Australia, which currently includes construction of the Adelaide Desalination Plant.
Hatcher has been working with Acciona Agua since late 2009 and has taken a lead commercial and financial role on a number of project development and acquisition opportunities. Most recently, he was the commercial director for the Helena Water Consortium (in which Acciona is a partner) and which achieved success with the recent financial close of the Mundaring Weir Water Supply PPP project in Perth.
Previously, Hatcher spent 16 years as finance director of United Utilities in Australia. He was part of a core team which grew that business into a widely recognised and respected national private sector water business with major operations in five states.
“Simon brings with him extensive experience in the water business in the Australian market,” said Brett Thomas, group managing director, Acciona Asia-Pacific. “This knowledge is key to success in this highly competitive and demanding market.”