United Utilities - Chief Financial Officer

United Utilities Group PLC

18 May 2010

                     Russ Houlden to join United Utilities                     
                          as Chief Financial Officer                           

United Utilities Group PLC today announces that Russ Houlden is to be appointed
to the Board as its new Chief Financial Officer.

Russ Houlden, age 51, has held a number of senior financial positions both in
the UK and internationally and is currently Chief Financial Officer at Telecom
New Zealand which he joined in 2008. Prior to that, from 2002-2008, he was
based in London as Finance Director at global law firm Lovells, following three
years at British Telecom, which he joined from ICI where he spent 19 years.  

Russ is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and a
Fellow of the Association of Corporate Treasurers.  He studied Management
Science at the University of Warwick.

His starting date is yet to be determined but is expected to be in the autumn
of 2010.

Philip Green, Chief Executive of United Utilities, said:

"I am delighted that Russ has agreed to join United Utilities. His combination
of experience within finance and treasury will prove invaluable to the company,
along with his extensive experience of operating in a regulatory environment
and managing large capital expenditure programmes. I welcome him to our Board
and very much look forward to working with him."

Russ Houlden said: 

"I am excited to be leaving one great company and joining another great company
right at the start of its new five year investment contract, to work alongside
Philip and his team. I am inheriting a strong balance sheet and a company that
is well positioned for the 2010-15 regulatory period."

Russ Houlden

2008 - present Telecom New Zealand, Chief Financial Officer

2002 - 2008 Lovells, Finance Director

1999 - 2002 British Telecom, Finance Director, BT Wholesale (2000-2002),
Finance Director, BT Networks and Information Services (1999-2000)

1980 - 1999 ICI, including roles as Finance Director, ICI Polyurethanes 
(1994-1999), Finance Director, ICI Japan (1991-1994), Head of Corporate
Reporting, ICI Group (1989-1991)

Non-Executive Roles

2006 - present Warwick Business School

Personal

Russ is married with two sons.

United Utilities contacts:

Gaynor Kenyon, Communications Director                [phone]   
                                                                           
Darren Jameson, Head of Investor Relations            [phone]   
                                                                           
James Bradley / Tom Murray, Tulchan Communications    [phone] 

This announcement is also available at: http://www.unitedutilities.com