Biography

Rod West is a member of the board of directors for Essential Utilities, Inc. (NYSE: WTRG), one of the largest publicly traded water, wastewater and natural gas providers in the U.S., serving approximately 5.5 million people across 10 states.

West is the group president, utility operations at Entergy Corporation (NYSE:ETR), a Fortune 500 electric production and distribution company located in New Orleans, Louisiana. His portfolio includes strategy development, operational and financial performance for all five of Entergy’s operating companies. He oversees the company’s electric and natural gas distribution, customer service operations, the utility’s engagement with state and local regulators, and regulated retail commercial development and innovation.

West previously served as Entergy’s executive vice president and chief administrative officer from 2010-2017, where his responsibilities included the company’s legal, federal regulatory and governmental, communications, and corporate shared services functions supporting utility, nuclear and wholesale operations, as well as the development and execution of the company’s environmental strategy.

As president and CEO of Entergy New Orleans from 2007-2010, West led the company out of its post-Hurricane Katrina bankruptcy and back to profitability. He is credited with leading the company’s ongoing effort to replace nearly 850 miles of underground pipe damaged after Hurricane Katrina.

West received his B.A. from the University of Notre Dame, and both his J.D. and MBA from Tulane University. He served on the board of directors for the Electric Power Research Institute and the Edison Electric Institute, and he is a Hesburgh trustee for the University of Notre Dame. He’s also a member of the Executive Leadership Council, National Football Foundation, and previously served as president of the Allstate Sugar Bowl. West is a life member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., and Sigma Pi Phi (The Boulé).

West serves on the Corporate Governance Committee and Risk Mitigation and investment Policy Committee