Robert J. Kuta
About Robert J. Kuta
Robert J. Kuta, age 60, is Executive Vice President, Engineering & Environmental Resources at Global Water Resources (GWRS) since January 2025, bringing 35+ years in water utilities, engineering operations, regulatory strategy, and compliance leadership . He previously led Cal Water’s $1.4 billion capital portfolio as Vice President and Chief Water Quality & Environmental Affairs Compliance Officer and served senior roles at CH2M HILL and American Water, including President of Arizona American Water . Education: B.S. Biology (Central Michigan), MBA (University of Phoenix), graduate studies in Hydrology/Civil Engineering (ASU), Advanced Certificate for Executives in Management, Innovation, and Technology (MIT) . Company performance context: FY2024 revenue was $52.692M vs. $53.028M in FY2023, with FY2024 net income of $5.789M; TSR values of a $100 investment were $92.67 (2022), $91.60 (2023), and $84.52 (2024) .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Strategic Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global Water Resources (GWRS) | EVP, Engineering & Environmental Resources | Jan 2025–present | Leads engineering, construction, and environmental programs; strengthens compliance mandate and supports growth-oriented capital programs . |
| California Water Service Company | VP & Chief Water Quality & Environmental Affairs Compliance Officer | Jun 2015–Jun 2023 | Initiated and oversaw forward-looking capital portfolio with $1.4B budget; compliance and regulatory leadership . |
| Water Utilities Consultant | Consultant | Jun 2023–Jan 2025 | Advisory and performance model development across regulated utilities . |
| CH2M HILL (Jacobs) | Senior VP, Operations Management Service – Water, Environment & Nuclear | Not disclosed | Led 1,400 associates delivering ~$250M annual service contracts; helped lead >$2B infrastructure programs and military utility privatization projects . |
| American Water (incl. Arizona American Water) | President; Regional VP Service Delivery | Not disclosed | Managed rolling 5-year gross capital budgets >$1B; aligned investment with rate recovery plans . |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Strategic Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design-Build Institute of America – Western Pacific Region | Board member | Current | Advances design-build best practices, education, and certification . |
| Bay Area Water Supply & Conservation Agency (BAWSCA) | Board member | Previously | Governance/representation for 24 cities, water districts, and private utilities in Bay Area . |
| Industry groups (AWWA, NAWC, WEF, Water for People, WateReuse, NCPP, Living Water) | Member/participant | Not disclosed | Professional standards, policy engagement, and sector leadership . |
Fixed Compensation
- Not disclosed in the 2025 DEF 14A for Kuta (he is listed as an executive officer but not a named executive officer). The Summary Compensation Table covers Ron L. Fleming (CEO), Michael J. Liebman (CFO), and Christopher D. Krygier (COO) .
Performance Compensation
Company incentive framework (2024 NEO program, illustrating design/metrics):
| Metric | Weighting | Target | Actual | Payout | Vesting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compliance & Safety | 25% | 4 discrete safety objectives; compliance events reduce by 25% each | No compliance events; safety goals met | 25.0% | RSUs from annual incentive awards vest ratably over 12 quarters . |
| Further Adjusted EBITDA | 25% | $22.9M budget; payout scale 0–100% with thresholds | $23.2M; achieved 100% of payout scale | 25.0% | RSUs vest ratably over 12 quarters . |
| Capital Improvement Execution | 25% | Capex budget $31.0M (excl. growth/acquisition); overages offset pool | $25.6M; achieved 100% of payout scale | 25.0% | RSUs vest ratably over 12 quarters . |
| Board Discretionary Component | 25% | Operational performance, customer service, regulatory & environmental compliance, H&S, water loss | Board awarded full amount | 25.0% | RSUs vest ratably over 12 quarters . |
| Total | 100% | — | — | 100.0% | — |
- Note: The above describes the company’s 2024 structure for named executive officers; Kuta’s 2025 incentive structure is not disclosed .
Equity Ownership & Alignment
- Kuta’s beneficial ownership and equity award holdings are not disclosed in the 2025 proxy’s ownership tables; named executive and director ownership presented excludes him .
- Insider trading policy prohibits short sales, options trading, hedging/monetization, margin accounts, and generally prohibits pledging except in limited circumstances with Audit & Risk Committee pre‑approval .
- Executive RSU awards for NEOs vest quarterly over 12 consecutive quarters and restricted stock awards vest on stated schedules, indicating an at‑risk, time‑based alignment model for senior leadership .
Employment Terms
- Role/Start: Appointed EVP, Engineering & Environmental Resources in January 2025 to enhance engineering execution and environmental compliance across GWRS’s platform .
- Responsibilities: Lead infrastructure development, environmental programs, and compliance; coordination with existing team to support growth and potential largest capital improvement program .
- Employment agreement, severance, and change‑of‑control terms for Kuta are not disclosed in the 2025 DEF 14A; no Item 5.02 compensation filing identified .
Performance & Track Record Context
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Achievements: Led Cal Water’s $1.4B capital program; senior leadership at CH2M HILL delivering ~$250M annual service contracts and >$2B programs; capital planning at American Water with >$1B rolling budgets .
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Company quarterly operating context during first year of tenure: | Metric | Q2 2024 | Q3 2024 | Q4 2024 | Q1 2025 | Q2 2025 | Q3 2025 | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Revenue ($USD) | 13.51M | 14.321M | 13.251M* | 12.457M | 14.241M | 15.519M | | EBITDA ($USD) | 5.793M* | 6.917M* | 5.173M* | 4.583M* | 5.937M* | 6.477M* | Values with “*” retrieved from S&P Global.
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Company annual context: | Metric | FY 2023 | FY 2024 | |---|---|---| | Revenue ($USD) | 53.028M | 52.692M | | EBITDA ($USD) | 23.723M* | 22.084M* | | Net Income ($USD) | 7.982M | 5.789M | Values with “*” retrieved from S&P Global.
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Pay vs Performance TSR: | Metric | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |---|---|---|---| | Value of $100 Investment (TSR) | 92.67 | 91.60 | 84.52 |
Governance and Compensation Committee Context (Company-wide)
- Independent compensation consultant FW Cook engaged; peer group of 16 utilities including AWR, CWT, SJW, Middlesex, NW Natural, Unitil, York Water, etc.; NEOs’ target annual compensation assessed as below 25th percentile in 2023 .
- 2025 say‑on‑pay approval: 98.65% votes for, indicating broad shareholder support for compensation approach .
Investment Implications
- Compensation alignment and disclosure: Kuta is a senior executive but not an NEO in the 2025 proxy, so base salary/bonus/equity and severance/CIC terms are not publicly disclosed—limiting pay‑for‑performance assessment at the individual level for now . Company‑wide incentives emphasize compliance/safety, Further Adjusted EBITDA vs budget, capex execution, and board discretion, with RSUs vesting quarterly—suggesting emphasis on operational execution and fiscal discipline .
- Retention and selling pressure: Anti‑hedging/anti‑pledging policy reduces misalignment risk; absence of disclosed individual ownership makes monitoring of Form 4 selling activity important going forward .
- Execution risk vs value creation: Kuta’s track record managing multi‑billion‑dollar programs and regulated utility compliance is aligned with GWRS’s growth via rate cases and acquisitions; quarterly revenue growth in 2025 supports near‑term top‑line trajectory as infrastructure programs scale . High say‑on‑pay support lowers governance overhang .
- Monitoring: Watch for future proxy inclusion of Kuta’s compensation (target metrics, RSU/PSU structures, severance/CIC triggers), any 8‑K 5.02 filings on comp changes, and insider ownership updates; track capex delivery vs rate recovery and Further Adjusted EBITDA vs budget to infer incentive payout likelihood .