News Summary

• Thames Water paid its finance chief a £1m signing-on fee in July.
• Steve Buck joined the company in April 2025 but it is understood the seven-figure payment was not made until last month.
• The utility company owes roughly £20bn and has been working with creditors and government officials to find a way forward.
• Prime Minister Andy Burnham has previously said he would like to see "greater public control" of key water and energy utilities.
• In the past year, Thames Water boss Chris Weston saw his pay increase 14% to £1.63m while other directors received bonuses totalling £4.1m.