North Haven First Selectman Appointed Shared CEO Of Major Organizations

NORTH HAVEN, CT — The Regional Water Authority (RWA) and Aquarion Water Authority (AWA) announced Tuesday the appointment of North Haven First Selectman Michael Freda as the Chief Executive Officer for both public utility organizations.

"This unified leadership appointment supports the recent transition of Aquarion Water Company to a locally governed, not-for-profit utility model, operating alongside the RWA," according to a news release announcing the appointment.

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Freda, who has served as North Haven's first selectman for nearly 17 years, recently announced he would most likely be stepping down after receiving an unexpected offer to become CEO of a major company.

Freda brings "decades of leadership, executive management, and a strong fiscal track record to his new role," according to the news release. To "facilitate a seamless leadership transition," officials said he will officially assume full-time responsibilities for his new role on Jan. 1, 2027.

"Under this shared leadership framework, both the RWA and AWA will operate as standalone, sister entities while leveraging a joint CEO, a consolidated Chief Financial Officer, and a unified board of directors to achieve operational efficiencies," according to the news release.

The presidents of both RWA and AWA will report directly to the CEO.

"As we enter this new chapter, establishing a shared leadership team is a vital step in realizing our regional vision for sustainable, high-quality water service," said David Borowy, Board Chair for RWA and AWA. "Mike's deep experience in both the private and public sectors, and proven track record of municipal policy and fiscal leadership, make him the ideal leader to guide both authorities in collaboration with the existing leadership teams. This framework ensures that local communities receive the highest standards of stewardship, accountability, and operational excellence."

The consolidation of executive management is "designed to provide greater regional collaboration while protecting the distinct, localized rate structures and customer service operations that both authorities are known for," the news release states.

"I am honored to step into the new role of CEO during this transformative time," Freda said. "Our two organizations share a deep commitment to providing safe, reliable, and affordable water services. By uniting our strategic priorities and practices, we can maximize efficiency, expand our technical capabilities, and ensure long-term value for every community we serve."

Both RWA and AWA will continue to maintain their dedicated public utility remits, "ensuring that the public authority model directly benefits consumers," according to the news release. "Customers will experience no changes to their day-to-day water service, accounts, or billing methods."

See also: North Haven First Selectman Says He May Step Down After 17 Years