Chris Franklin, the recently appointed CEO of Aqua America Inc. is one of a new style of bosses that are infusing youth into corporate America. In an interview with philly.com he talks about his new position, how it feels to succeed his former boss, and dealing with the politics that comes with his new position.

Christopher Franklin who also gave an interview to VISTA Today just after his appointment in July, succeeds Nick DeBenedictis who spent over a third of his life successfully building and running the company that provides water to over 40 Chester County communities before deciding to retire.

Franklin, who got the new position at only 50 years old, worked for DeBenedictis for almost a quarter of a century, first at Paco Energy, and then at the Bryn Mawr based for-profit water and sewer company for 22 years.

In the interview, the new CEO has nothing but words of praise for his former boss. “I have seen the value of his stature, and I’ve watched his stature climb over the years. I will tell you this, too: He has earned it all. Nobody works harder than Nick DeBenedictis does,” Franklin notes in the interview.

He is also not worried about being too closely identified with his friend and predecessor, as he has supported DeBenedictis in all the things he values most during the time that he worked under him, while at the same time carving out initiatives that would build his own reputation.

When asked about dealing with politicians, Franklin notes that they are some of the most interesting people to meet. “They’re typically very extroverted. Because they’re with other people we know in the public realm and because they have private relationships and discussions with them, they have a lot of good stories.”

On a lighter now, when asked if as a water CEO he will drive up revenues by taking long showers, Franklin answered lightheartedly that his showers are pretty quick, especially compared to his children’s. Read the full interview here