NorthWestern Energy CEO Bob Rowe will retire at the end of 2022. As part of a planned leadership succession process, the NorthWestern Energy board of directors appointed Brian B. Bird, currently the company’s president and chief operating officer, to serve as Rowe’s successor.
Effective Jan. 1, 2023, Bird will assume the title and responsibilities of president and chief executive officer and become a member of NorthWestern Energy’s board of directors. For the remainder of 2022, Rowe will continue to work closely with Bird in support of a smooth transition, which began in February 2021 when the board approved a modification to the executive leadership team that named Bird president and chief operating officer.
“Bob Rowe is passionate about NorthWestern Energy’s culture, built on collaborative interaction, mentorship and fellowship,” said NorthWestern Energy Chairman of the Board Dana Dykhouse. “Our outstanding employee group, demonstrating a commitment to safety, commitment to our customers, commitment to our environment, and commitment to our communities is a testament to Bob’s relentless focus on promoting and supporting that culture. Bob’s vision of this company’s role in a rapidly changing energy future has successfully achieved the balance critical to our successes today, tomorrow and for years into the future. Brian is a respected industry financial leader with an excellent understanding of NorthWestern Energy’s operations. He has been instrumental in guiding the company to today’s solid financial footing.”
“During the past 14 years I’ve worked at NorthWestern Energy, our focus has been on building a company that is financially sound, in order to keep our commitments to our customers; energy-service focused; community focused; and, customer focused,” said Rowe. “We’ve emphasized a company culture of safety and service, which was on display this spring and summer during NorthWestern Energy’s response to major storms in our service areas. We have a solid foundation for what is already a successful transition that is well underway. Since becoming president and COO in February 2021, Brian has focused on moving forward key projects and spending substantial time in the field and in our communities. Under Brian’s leadership, NorthWestern Energy will continue to focus on securing sufficient capacity to serve our customers reliably and affordably; modernizing the energy infrastructure to make it smarter, more reliable and flexible; providing our customers an ever-better experience and service; deploying technology that is cost effective and has proven value for our customers; and, enhancing our environmental stewardship.”
Bird joined NorthWestern Energy as the chief financial officer in December 2003.
Recently, as president and chief operating officer, Bird steered NorthWestern Energy’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality in our electric and natural gas operations by 2050 and the company’s environmental, social and corporate governance programs and reporting. He is also leading integration of our strategy and planning across the company’s operating areas.
“For 100-plus years NorthWestern Energy has delivered safe, reliable and affordable energy to our region,” Bird said. “I am honored to be entrusted with the role of leading this company as we begin the next 100 years and beyond of service.”
NorthWestern Energy board of directors appointed Brian Bird, left, currently president and chief operating officer, to serve as the successor of CEO Bob Rowe, right. Rowe will retire as chief executive officer and a member of NorthWestern Energy’s board of directors at the end of 2022.
Photo courtesy of Northwestern Energy.
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