Valpak chief executive to step down in January

The company confirmed this morning that Mr Cox is to join AWG plc, the UK's fourth largest water provider, as group chief executive.

Mr Cox is to leave Valpak in mid-January after completing an agreed programme of work, and Valpak has said it will announce his replacement “in due course”.

Jonson Cox is to join water company AWG

The UK's largest packaging waste compliance scheme, Valpak serves more than 5,000 companies and has over 3,000 members. During his time in charge of the compliance scheme, Mr Cox oversaw the sale of Valpak's commercial glass packaging collection service, recycle-more-glass (see letsrecycle.com story), and the acquisition of 40% of the Environment Exchange PRN marketplace (see letsrecycle.com story).

Valpak chairman John Gummer MP commented: “Since joining Valpak in April 2002, Jonson has implemented a new and clear strategy, ensuring that we offer a competitive and comprehensive compliance package that is second to none. Under his management we have substantially cut our overheads, and undertaken some key strategic moves, including the sale of the recycle-more-glass scheme and the purchase of a stake in electronic trading floor The Environment Exchange.

“He has also ensured that we are in a strong position for compliance between 2004 and 2008; we have a procurement portfolio which puts us in an excellent position for the years ahead. I would like to thank Jonson for all his hard work and achievements at Valpak, and wish him all the best in his new post,” Mr Gummer added.

Mr Cox will take with him previous experience of the water industry when he joins AWG plc – from 1997 to 2000, he was managing director of Yorkshire Water. Mr Cox has a wealth of experience in other sectors as well, including his role as chief operating officer of Railtrack between September 2000 and 2001.

The AWG group carries out water and wastewater services and includes Anglian Water Services, the largest water company in England in terms of the area it serves. The company had a turnover in the twelve months to March 2003 of nearly 2 billion and an operating profit of 325.9 million.