UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o
Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
On October 25, 2023, the Board of Directors elected Roderick K. West to serve on the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Essential Utilities, Inc. (the “Company”) effective immediately. He was elected to a term that will expire at the next annual meeting of shareholders.
Mr. West has served as Group President Utility Operations for Entergy Corporation (“Entergy”) (NYSE: ETR), a Fortune 500 integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana. In this role, Mr. West is responsible for strategy development, operational and financial performance of Entergy’s five operating companies. Mr. West oversees Entergy’s electric and natural gas distribution, customer service operations, its engagement with state and local regulators, and regulated retail commercial development and innovation. Each of Entergy’s five operating companies is managed by an independent president and chief executive officer and those five leaders report to Mr. West who has profit and loss responsibility for the business. Mr. West reports to Entergy’s Chief Executive Officer and its Chairman of the Board.
Prior to this role, Mr. West previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer for Entergy from 2010 to 2017, where his responsibilities included managing Entergy’s shared services functions supporting utility, nuclear and wholesale operations, including finance operations, supply chain, business processes, administrative services, information technology, human resources and administration, federal policy, regulatory and governmental affairs, and corporate communications. Mr. West also led Entergy’s development and execution of its environmental strategy.
Mr. West served on the board of directors for the Electric Power Research Institute and the Edison Electric Institute, and he is currently a Hesburgh trustee for the University of Notre Dame. He earned his Juris Doctor from the Tulane University School of Law and received an MBA from the Tulane University A.B. Freeman School of Business. Mr. West has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame, where he lettered three years and was a member of the 1988 National Championship football team.
The Board has determined that Mr. West is independent in accordance with the Company’s corporate governance guidelines and applicable New York Stock Exchange and Securities Exchange Commission (“SEC”) requirements. There are no arrangements or understandings between Mr. West and any other person pursuant to which he was selected as a director. Mr. West has not been a party to any transaction involving the Company required to be disclosed under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
Mr. West will receive compensation for his service as director consistent with the Company’s compensation program for non-employee directors which became effective January 1, 2023 as described under the caption “Director Compensation” in the Company’s proxy statement for the 2023 annual meeting of shareholders filed with the SEC on March 20, 2023.
Mr. West has been appointed to the Corporate Governance Committee and the Risk Mitigation and Investment Policy Committee of the Board.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| ESSENTIAL UTILITIES, INC. | ||
| October 27, 2023 | By: | /s/ Christopher P. Luning |
| Name: | Christopher P. Luning | |
| Title: | Executive Vice President, General Counsel | |
Cover |
Oct. 25, 2023 |
|---|---|
| Cover [Abstract] | |
| Document Type | 8-K |
| Amendment Flag | false |
| Document Period End Date | Oct. 25, 2023 |
| Entity File Number | 001-06659 |
| Entity Registrant Name | Essential Utilities, Inc. |
| Entity Central Index Key | 0000078128 |
| Entity Tax Identification Number | 23-1702594 |
| Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code | PA |
| Entity Address, Address Line One | 762 West Lancaster Avenue |
| Entity Address, City or Town | Bryn Mawr |
| Entity Address, State or Province | PA |
| Entity Address, Postal Zip Code | 19010-3489 |
| City Area Code | (610) |
| Local Phone Number | 527-8000 |
| Written Communications | false |
| Soliciting Material | false |
| Pre-commencement Tender Offer | false |
| Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer | false |
| Title of 12(b) Security | Common stock, $.50 par value |
| Trading Symbol | WTRG |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| Entity Emerging Growth Company | false |
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