NW Natural Holdings Announces Mary E. Ludford as Board Member

New Director Brings Extensive Industry Experience

PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NW Natural Holding Company’s (NYSE: NWN) board of directors has elected a new member, Mary E. Ludford, effective August 19, 2024.

From 2018 until her retirement in 2020, Ludford served as deputy chief security officer for Exelon Corporation, a leading provider of utility services in the United States. She previously served as vice president, corporate operations from 2016 to 2018 and as chief audit executive from 2010 until 2016 at Exelon.

Additionally, Ludford served from 2009 to 2010 as vice president of smart grid and smart meters, as vice president of customer operations from 2007 to 2009, and as vice president finance from 2006 to 2007 at PECO Energy (an Exelon company). She also served as vice president of customer financial operations at Commonwealth Edison and PECO Energy from 2005 to 2006. Prior to 2005, Ludford held a variety of roles of increasing responsibility and complexity in the energy industry.

Ludford currently serves on the board of directors of Otter Tail Corporation (NASDAQ: OTTR), where she also serves on its audit and corporate governance committees. She holds a Master of Business Administration from the Quinlan School of Business at Loyola University Chicago and a Bachelor of Business from Western Illinois University.

“We are pleased to welcome Mary and her extensive energy industry experience to our Board,” said Malia H. Wasson, NW Natural Holdings’ board chair. “She offers a wealth of knowledge and insights that will be invaluable to the work we do.”

Ludford was also elected to the board of directors of Northwest Natural Gas Company (NW Natural), the company’s wholly owned subsidiary, commencing on August 19, 2024.

About NW Natural Holdings

Northwest Natural Holding Company (NYSE: NWN) (NW Natural Holdings) is headquartered in Portland, Oregon and has been doing business for over 165 years in the Pacific Northwest. It owns NW Natural Gas Company (NW Natural), NW Natural Water Company (NW Natural Water), NW Natural Renewables Holdings (NW Natural Renewables), and other business interests.

We have a longstanding commitment to safety, environmental stewardship and the energy transition, and taking care of our employees and communities. NW Natural Holdings was recognized by Ethisphere® for the third consecutive year in 2024 as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies®. NW Natural consistently leads the industry with high J.D. Power & Associates customer satisfaction scores. Learn more in our latest Community and Sustainability Report at nwnatural.com/about-us/the-company/sustainability.

NW Natural is a local distribution company that currently provides natural gas service to approximately 2 million people in more than 140 communities through more than 800,000 meters in Oregon and Southwest Washington with one of the most modern pipeline systems in the nation. NW Natural owns and operates 21.6 Bcf of underground gas storage capacity in Oregon.

NW Natural Water provides water distribution and water and wastewater services to communities throughout the Pacific Northwest, Texas and Arizona. NW Natural Water serves nearly 185,000 people through approximately 74,000 meters and provides operation and maintenance services to an additional 19,000 connections. Learn more about our water business at nwnaturalwater.com.

NW Natural Renewables is a competitive business committed to leading in the energy transition by providing renewable fuels to support decarbonization in the utility, commercial, industrial and transportation sectors. Learn more at nwnaturalrenewables.com.

Additional information is available at nwnaturalholdings.com.

“World’s Most Ethical Companies” and “Ethisphere” names and marks are registered trademarks of Ethisphere LLC