Preng & Associates Fills Board Position for Unitil Corporation
November 11, 2024 – Recruiting for boards of directors, considered the backbones of organizations, has grown markedly more challenging, say recruiters who conduct searches in that area. As a result, companies continue to turn to executive search firms to help find new board members. Houston-based Preng & Associates recently assisted in the recruitment of Jane Lewis-Raymond as a member of the board of directors at NYSE-traded Unitil Corporation in Hampton, NH. Consultants Mark Ciolek and Gary Carlson led the search on behalf of Preng & Associates.
“We are delighted that Jane Lewis-Raymond will be joining the Unitil board,” said Thomas P. Meissner, Unitil’s chairman and chief executive officer. “Jane is a proven leader having served as an attorney and an executive in the natural gas industry for nearly three decades. She brings a broad portfolio of skills that will enhance and complement our board’s existing skill set and strengthen our commitment to safety, growth and sustainability.”
Ms. Lewis-Raymond is principal of Hilltop Strategies, which provides strategic consulting services to senior executives in a wide variety of industries. At Hilltop she brings vast experience as a natural gas utility executive, including deep knowledge of corporate governance, community relations, cybersecurity oversight, as well as data privacy, safety, and corporate ESG programs. Prior to Hilltop, Ms. Lewis-Raymond was a partner in the corporate and energy groups at the firm of Parker Poe Adams and Bernstein.
Prior to Parker Poe, she served as senior vice president and chief legal, compliance and external relations officer at Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc., which is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Duke Energy. Before this, Ms. Lewis-Raymond held the position of vice president of regulatory affairs at the American Gas Association. She also currently serves on the board of Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc.
Unitil Corporation provides energy for life by safely and reliably delivering electricity and natural gas in New England. It isa public utility holding company with operations in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Together, Unitil’s operating utilities serve approximately 108,500 electric customers and 88,400 natural gas customers.
Ms. Lewis-Raymond will stand for election to the board by the shareholders of the company at the next annual meeting of shareholders, which will be held in April 2025.
Serving the Energy Sector
Preng & Associates, founded in 1980, is the only retainer-based, international executive search firm specializing solely in the energy industry. The firm’s experience spans the entire energy value chain – from the well head to the wall socket. Its subsector verticals have specific expertise in oil and gas (upstream, midstream, and downstream), oilfield equipment and services, power and utilities, renewables, engineering and construction, and industrials. Preng & Associates has conducted more than 4,000 engagements for over 880 companies and placed individuals for board, executive management, and professional positions in 92 countries.
Related: Preng & Associates Fills Board Positions for NET Power
Mr. Ciolek leads the utility/power practice at Preng & Associates. His search practice is focused on electric and gas utilities, independent generators, renewable energy, and industrial/services companies supporting the utilities and power sector. Mr. Ciolek combines 12 years of senior-level search experience with an extensive knowledge base and network developed during his prior 25 years of industry and management consulting. He conducts a wide variety of senior level assignments, including CEO/president, COO and CFO roles. His functional search experience includes operations, engineering and construction, business, and project development, regulatory, strategy and IT.
Mr. Carlson joined Preng & Associates to lead the engineering and construction practice. He brings over 40 years of corporate and consulting experience with global energy organizations engaged in engineering & construction, industrial services, oilfield services, utilities, power, and renewables. Mr. Carlson has particular expertise in assessing, acquiring and developing talent, as well as teambuilding and ensuring cultural fit. His industry experience includes executive positions with McDermott, KBR, M.W. Kellogg, MWH Global, Halliburton, and Dresser encompassing a full range of leadership and technical positions. Mr. Carlson has managed a wide-range of executive searches throughout his career including board, C-suite, executive and senior operations management, as well as executive and senior administration management.
Luring Directors
According to Egon Zehnder, heightened expectations now placed on boards have elevated both the professional standards and personal commitment required of all directors.
Preng & Associates Recruits CEO for Kimmeridge Texas Gas
Preng & Associates has assisted in the recruitment of David Lawler as CEO of Kimmeridge Texas Gas (KTG), an affiliate of Kimmeridge. “We welcome David to the Kimmeridge Texas Gas team as it enters a compelling new era of growth, while accelerating carbon neutrality through the development of environmentally responsible, low-cost energy assets,” said Ben Dell, managing partner of Kimmeridge and director at KTG. David has shaped and led large-scale, best-in-class operations that align with Kimmeridge’s commitment to enhancing capital efficiency and reaching net-zero operations. Additionally, we would like to thank Mike Wieland for all his contributions as CEO of KTG since September 2022, helping to build it into the high-quality, scaled asset it is today.”
At the same time, many boards find that the supply of independent-minded “board experienced” directors – especially those who can add vital forms of specialized skills and expertise – is limited. Such candidates are widely sought but can be hesitant to take on the intensive responsibilities now required of board service.
Most in demand are women, senior leaders with global experience, ethnically diverse professionals, and millennials.
Related: Preng & Associates Places Independent Non-Executive Director for CleanTech Lithium
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
