Published Friday, 27 August 2010
It was their first meeting following the suspension of top civil servant Paul Priestly whose job it was to oversee Northern Ireland Water.
The interim board chairman Padraic White said the non-executive directors met "informally" with Mr MacKenzie on Friday to "be brought up to speed with NI Water affairs" ahead of a board meeting next month.
"Based on everything we've seen and the impressive track record and achievements of the CEO, we're happy to give him our full support and look forward to working with him in the time ahead as CEO of NI Water", Mr White said in a statement.
Last week Mr Priestly was suspended from his role as DRD Permanent Secretary pending an investigation after admitting his role in drafting a letter criticising three MLAs serving on the Public Accounts Committee.
The email sent by Mr Priestly to Phoenix Gas chief executive Peter Dixon was copied to Mr MacKenzie.
It followed a PAC hearing during which questions were raised about whether the Independent Review Team investigating the failings of Northern Ireland Water - of which Mr Dixon was a member - had been truly independent.
Among other issues, PAC members asked about the relationship between Mr Dixon and Mr MacKenzie.
Last week NIW said Mr MacKenzie had not asked to be sent the controversial email, did not respond to it or take any actions with it and subsequently deleted it.
Earlier this week, UTV revealed that contract failings similar to those uncovered at Northern Ireland Water had been found at Northern Ireland Electricity, at a time when Mr MacKenzie was in charge.
NI Water said the issue raised by UTV was a matter for NIE.