Welsh Water appoints head of public affairs

Mace | 7th July 2026 | Moves

Welsh Water said the creation of the head of public affairs role “signifies the importance of, and our commitment to, ensuring appropriate and timely engagement with elected representatives.”

Craig Lawton has joined Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water as head of public affairs, a newly created role, following three years as an associate director at Grasshopper Communications. He started last week and is part of the corporate affairs team led by Heulyn Gwyn Davies. Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water said Lawton joins at a pivotal moment for the sector, with the recent Senedd election creating what it described as "a once-in-a-generation opportunity" to reshape water regulation and legislation in Wales. Before joining the company, Lawton spent three years as an associate director at Grasshopper Communications. Earlier, he was senior public affairs officer for Wales at the British Medical Association and served as a senior policy and communications adviser to the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd. He began his career as a legal adviser and insurance claims handler. Lawton will now be responsible for leading the water firm’s public affairs and political engagement activity. According to Welsh Water, he i...

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