United Utilities Says Steve Mogford to Become Chief Executive in January

United Utilities Group Plc, the U.K.’s largest publicly traded water company, said Steve Mogford has been appointed chief executive officer, taking over from Philip Green.

Mogford, 54, will become chief executive designate and a board member on Jan. 5, the Warrington, England-based water company said in a statement today. Green plans to step down on March 31. He was appointed in 2006.

Mogford comes to United Utilities from the defense industry, where he has held executive positions at BAE systems Plc and British Aerospace Plc, the company said.

“We have a clear plan to invest a record 3.6 billion ($5.78 billion) in the North West over the next five years and Steve is the right man to lead that investment program,” Chairman John McAdam said in the statement.

To contact the reporters on this story: Kari Lundgren in London at klundgren2@bloomberg.net