VOORHEES, N.J., Oct. 27, 2003 -- American Water announced that Jeremy Pelczer has been appointed president of American Water and to its Board, effective September 1, 2003.
Pelczer is responsible for further developing the team-based, high performance culture of American Water that delivers results for customers, employees, and stakeholders.
In January 2003 American Water joined RWE Thames Water, the third largest water and wastewater service company in the world. As part of a restructuring, the Water Division has established two corporate centers.
The first corporate center is located in Voorhees, New Jersey, where Pelczer leads the management team as they work to deliver on business priorities for the Americas region and beyond. The other corporate center is located in Reading, United Kingdom, where RWE Thames Water oversees worldwide operations.
"Jeremy plays a vital role as President of American Water, and he will work with the entire management team to focus on business performance that drives continuous improvement and greater success across the water business," stated Bill Alexander, Chairman and CEO of American Water and CEO of RWE Thames Water. "We are pleased to have a leader with Jeremy's energy, expertise and know-how to help guide the future of our business during this important time." Alexander's responsibilities between January and August 2003 also included President of American Water, but Pelczer assumed this role while Alexander stepped down to take on additional duties with RWE.
Additionally, Pelczer will assume the role of Deputy CEO of RWE Thames Water. In that capacity he will continue to support the drive of the water business to higher standards of customer service and operational performance. Pelczer will also continue to direct the divisional Corporate Social Responsibility program, which further strengthens American Water's ties and commitment to each local community across the United States where they own or operate a water facility.
"Given the proud history of American Water, I feel very privileged to be President," stated Pelczer. "Working together as a unified single team, we will continue to thrive as a successful business that makes employees proud, is respected by competitors, and valued by customers - while providing localized, high-quality service to each of the 1,500 communities we operate in."
Pelczer has more than 20 years of strategic acquisition, operations management, finance, and accounting experience with a variety of defense and utility companies headquartered in the United Kingdom - including Thames Water Plc where he played an integral role in developing the company's international business. He joined Thames Water Plc as Financial Controller in 1996, and was appointed Managing Director of International Operations in 1999. In this role, Pelczer led the acquisition of the Elizabethtown Water Company in New Jersey, where he also served as Chairman until 2000. In 2001 Pelczer was promoted to Board level as Chief Operating Officer of Thames Water Plc, with responsibility for business performance and leading the restructuring of the business into regions with the goal of getting closer to customers.
Pelczer is a Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. In 2002 he attended the Advance Management Program at Harvard Business School. Pelczer graduated in 1979 from the University of Kent in Canterbury, England where he studied Economics. He began his professional career as an accountant with a private firm and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1983. Pelczer was born in Yorkshire, United Kingdom.
About American Water, Thames Water, and RWE
Established over 100 years ago, American Water provides high quality water, wastewater, and other related services. As part of RWE Thames Water, American Water serves 20 million customers in 28 states, 4 Canadian provinces, Puerto Rico and Chile. Thames Water is the water division of international multi-utility RWE's water division, which is the third largest water and wastewater Services Company in the world. It serves almost 70 million people in 46 countries across the globe. Additional information can be found on the Internet at www.amwater.com or www.thameswater.com.
American Water and RWE Thames Water, through its combined expertise, will continue the tradition of providing customers with superior quality service while gaining access to new technologies, research and development, and global experience in service, customer satisfaction and security.
