Richard Ackroyd

Richard Ackroyd, who has died aged 53, was the straight-talking Yorkshireman who took Scottish Water into the international business arena.

As head of Scotland's fourth-largest business, he presided over a billion-pound budget and steered the organisation into a new commercial era, winning contracts in Canada, Qatar and Poland to export its expertise abroad.

Mr Ackroyd, who died overnight in hospital over the weekend, made a point of regularly getting in at grass roots level, accompanying his own employees, such as water samplers and those running water treatment works, to experience a day in their working life.

Away from the day job, he believed in putting something back into the community and was a Scout leader and keen supporter of Scottish Water's volunteering programme – once astonishing a hungry homeless man by spontaneously sharing his packed lunch.

Originally a solicitor, he studied law at the University of Nottingham in the late 1970s before starting his working life there with the firm Wells & Hind. He made the transition from private practice to the water industry when he took a post as head of legal services at Yorkshire Water. He was made a director there in 1996 and latterly oversaw regulation and investment.

During his time in Yorkshire he was also chairman of Water UK for two years from 2006 to 2008 and was appointed chief executive of Scottish Water in March 2008 when, from the start, he set about visiting employees, at all levels, across the organisation from Shetland to Stranraer.

He was ambitious, exacting and results-orientated but focused on interacting with everyone, whether it involved going out on jobs with the van drivers or dealing with government ministers.

Only last year he predicted Scottish Water could, within a decade, be generating three times as much energy as it consumes, through wind, hydro power and food waste to energy schemes.

He is credited with guiding the Scottish body through its most successful period of growth and development, marking its 10th anniversary this year with a nomination for Utility of the Year, making significant improvements in its core business and turning it into a market leader in Scotland for digesting food and green waste.

Respected by the management as well as the rank and file, he was approachable and direct, equally capable of defending the business as he was of holding his hands up if he felt something was not right.

A couple of years ago, he decided to hand over 25% of his annual performance-related bonus to the charity WaterAid. He was also a strong advocate of Scottish Water's volunteering programme, which gives employees two days off each year to help others, and had participated in various initiatives along with his senior management team.

On one occasion, while redecorating a flat for a homeless client of the charity Fresh Start, he discovered that the tenant had no food and immediately offered him his own lunch. The recipient was incredulous that Scottish Water's chief executive was not only painting his property but had shared his sandwiches. Oblivious to the fact the man had been fazed, it was an example of his natural ability to engage with others.

Mr Ackroyd, the father of two boys, was also an active member of the Scouting movement and was a Scout leader in the Stirling area where he lived, taking youngsters on camps and exercises. Other outside interests included classic cars, particularly his beloved Triumph Stag, and Huddersfield Town FC. He is survived by his wife Julie and two young sons.