American Water announced that its CEO, Susan Story will retire April 1, 2020 as president and CEO of the company. She will be succeeded by Walter Lynch, currently Chief Operating Officer of American Water. Lynch, who will assume the president and CEO role on April 1 following Story's retirement, has been a critical part of American Water's success, starting his career with the company in 2001.

He has served as COO since 2008 with responsibility for a large part of the company. Lynch has more than 25 years of experience in both the regulated and market-based water and wastewater industry. In his current role, which he has held since 2008, Lynch is responsible for the successful performance of American Water's 16 regulated states, serving approximately 12 million people in more than 1,600 communities.

He also leads operational excellence across the company's footprint, as well as system-wide engineering, health and safety, and the company's Military Services Group. Lynch previously served as executive vice president of a multistate division; as president of New Jersey American Water and New York American Water; and as a group president of the company's market-based businesses. He joined American Water in 2001.

He also served as president of the National Association of Water Companies, and has served for several years on the board of directors and on its executive committee. He also serves on the Water Research Foundation's board of trustees.