John Nichols was named director of Brunswick County Public Utilities, effective Jan. 2.
 
Nichols is a Southport native and graduate of South Brunswick High School and has worked for Brunswick County for more than 10 years as assistant director of public utilities. He moved into his new position after the retirement of utilities director Jerry Pierce.
 
During his time as assistant director, the number of Brunswick County Public Utilities customers nearly doubled, and the county undertook several projects expanding the water and wastewater systems, including the Boiling Spring Lakes sewer collection and transmission project and the Northwest water treatment expansion, officials said.

Nichols was also instrumental with implementing the county-wide water system hydraulic model and sewer system hydraulic model, according to a news release, and was part of the team that won the N.C. American Water Works Association Large Distribution System of the Year Award four years in a row.