Search underway for new Middlesex Water CEO

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Middlesex Water Co.’s longtime president and chief executive officer, Dennis Doll, announced May 16 that he will retire by the end of 2023. 

Doll, who joined the Iselin-based utility company in 2004 as executive vice president, was named president, CEO and a director of the company in January 2006. In May 2010, he was elected chairman of the board.

Accumulating nearly 40 years of industry experience, Doll has also served on numerous associations and boards, including as president of the National Association of Water Cos.

The company said Doll will retire by Dec. 31 or when his successor is fully on board. Doll will remain a member of the board until his term ends in May 2024.  

Middlesex Water also announced it launched a search for Doll’s successor, which is being led by the board’s compensation committee along with national executive search firm Russell Reynolds Associates. 

In a statement, Walter Reinhard, Middlesex Water’s lead director, said the company is looking for “candidates who can build on Middlesex Water’s strong 126-year legacy of operational excellence.”

In the retirement announcement, Middlesex Water noted several achievements the company has made during Doll’s tenure, including acquisitions, customer growth and completing “significant construction projects.” 

Specifically, Middlesex Water highlighted Water for Tomorrow, the largest capital improvement program in company history, which includes projects such as:

• Construction of the 4.5-mile, 42-inch Western Transmission Main;
• The completion of a new ozone treatment plant in Edison, part of a $70 million project that began in 2019 and was completed in 2021;
• This year’s expected completion of a major treatment facility at the company’s largest groundwater facility, located in South Plainfield;
• And numerous infrastructure improvements at its Delaware operations. 

During his tenure, the company also had to navigate murkier waters, such as an April 2022 class action lawsuit regarding contamination of Middlesex County’s water supply. In response, the company impleaded 3M Co. as a third-party defendant in May 2022, claiming the corporation should be held accountable, not the utility company, “for 3M’s introduction of PFAS into Middlesex Water’s water supply at its Park Avenue wellfield facility in South Plainfield.”

An executive stated, “Middlesex Water Co. did not pollute its own water supply.”

In fact, because of the company’s major capital improvements to its plant and water transmission system, it was able to take the Park Avenue facility offline to ensure none of the water provided to customers exceeded the state’s maximum contaminant levels for PFAS. The company did not comment further on the case for this story.

“Dennis has led Middlesex Water through some of the largest capital campaigns and industry changes in the company’s history,” Reinhard said. “His strategic leadership, focus on fiscal accountability and organizational development have earned him the respect and admiration of employees, customers, shareholders, industry colleagues and regulators. We are grateful for his efforts in promoting the company’s strong values-based culture and leading the team in providing water and wastewater services safely, reliably and efficiently.” 

Doll’s retirement news comes amid a busy week for the company, which announced May 15 that it filed a petition with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities requesting an increase of approximately $33.9 million, or 31.23%, to its base rates. If approved, this means customers will see an increase in their water bills.