The board of directors of ALLETE Inc., the Duluth, Minnesota energy firm with wind farms in southern and western Oklahoma picked company President and CEO Bethany M. Owen to be chair of the board.
The move was effective Tuesday of this week. Owen has served as ALLETE’s president since 2019 and chief executive officer since February 2020. She took over as CEO when the COVID-19 pandemic struck the world and since then maintained what the board called a “steadfast focus on the health and safety of employees, customers and communities.”
During the past 15 months, Owen strengthened relationships with stakeholders as she oversaw significant initiatives, including: strategic investments in ALLETE Clean Energy’s largest wind developments including two wind farms in Oklahoma.
She also oversaw the completion of Minnesota Power’s Great Northern Transmission line, a rate case resolution, the filing of Minnesota Power’s Integrated Resource Plan with a vision for a carbon-free energy future, and the completion of the company’s first comprehensive sustainability report with an enhanced focus on social aspects of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
“Bethany’s inaugural year as CEO has been like no other,” said Lead Director Heidi E. Jimmerson.
Jimmerson says the board believes Bethany is uniquely qualified for the role and that the combined CEO and board chair, with an independent lead director, continues to be the best structure for ALLETE at this time.
Owen succeeds Alan R. Hodnik who announced in 2020 his plans to retire as executive chairman of the board following the 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Hodnik is retiring from the company this month after four decades and having served as ALLETE’s president from 2009 to 2019 and CEO from 2010 to 2020.
Owen joined the company in 2002 as an attorney and has extensive leadership experience in legal, corporate governance, information and cyber technology, human resources, and utility operations in her many previous roles.
Source: Business Wire
