Hydro International Promotes Chris Williams to Chief Operating Officer for US & European Operations

CLEVEDON, England - Hydro International today announced the promotion of Chris Williams to the newly created role of Chief Operating Officer overseeing the company’s European and U.S. business divisions.

Williams, with 20 years experience in the civil engineering and water sector, most recently served as Managing Director of Hydro International (EU) and a main board director of Hydro International Plc. He will report to Hydro Chief Executive Officer Steve Hides and will maintain offices in Hydro’s U.S. headquarters in Portland, Maine, and European headquarters in Clevedon in the U.K.

With Williams assuming day-to-day control of Hydro’s European and U.S. units, Hides will shift his focus to the strategic growth of Hydro’s business and, in particular, on the company’s plans for export expansion and business acquisitions.

“We created the new position of COO to respond to the Group’s expansion in recent years and maintain the continuous improvement of our core operating units while we identify and develop other opportunities to accelerate our overall rate of growth,” Hides said.

Williams is a member of the government’s Water Sector Advisory Group made up of key industry professionals to advise government on an international strategy for the water sector. He also serves as a board member of British Water, the trade association representing the water industry supply chain. He was responsible for establishing the Sustainable Drainage (SUDS) Group within British Water to act as a voice for the industry within SUDS development.

Williams is currently chairman of the UK Rainwater Harvesting Association. He is also an executive committee member of Aqua Europa , the Pan European water trade association.