The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Director of Hydro International is stepping down, the water treatment company announced Tuesday.

Steve Hides will retire from the positions following the appointment of a successor and a hand-over period.

However, he will remain with the company as he takes on the new responsibility of overseeing US operations and for driving growth in Central and South America.

The company, which also had operations in the UK and Ireland, is actively searching for a new CEO and a further announcement will be made in due course.

"Steve has served the business with loyalty and distinction for many years,"Chairman Roger Lockwood said.

"While Steve will be stepping down as CEO he will not be leaving the business; he will be applying his 30 years of Hydro experience by taking on a new challenge responsible for the oversight of the existing US businesses as well as planned expansion into Central and South America.

"We are confident that Steve will continue to serve Hydro well in this new role and will build on our recent success in developing the US market."

Hides has served as CEO for the past 12 years and he said was looking forward to the new challenges ahead.

"The business has grown significantly and I am proud of the progress the company has made since being appointed CEO in December 2000," he said.

"It was not an easy decision, but after 12 years at the helm the time has now come for me to take on a new role as we prepare Hydro for the next stage of its development."

RD

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