Kentucky American Water names new president

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – Kentucky American Water President Nick Rowe is retiring and the company announced he’ll be replaced by Kathryn Nash, effective May 2, 2022.

The company says Rowe will remain with the company from May to July in an advisory capacity to ensure a smooth transition. Rowe will also continue to serve on the Kentucky American Water Board of Directors.

Rowe joined American Water in 1987 at West Virginia American Water. Throughout his career, Rowe held various management positions, including serving as senior vice president of American Water’s Central and Eastern divisions. Rowe is also involved with various regulatory agencies, civic organizations and professional associations and recently served as chair of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.

Nash currently serves as senior director of Energy and Environmental Services at Waste Management. In this role, she is responsible for multiple divisions in the environmental and energy service sector and leads more than 300 employees.

Prior to joining Waste Management in 2016, Nash held various leadership roles at the Tennessee Valley Authority for more than 10 years, including as general manager of Civil Projects. Nash earned a Master of Business Administration in Operations

Management at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Tennessee Technological University. She also completed the Executive Program at Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Business.

“This is a bittersweet day for our company as Nick has spent 35 years at American Water caring for our employees, our customers and truly becoming part of the communities we serve, especially in Kentucky,” said Cheryl Norton, executive vice president and COO of American Water. “I cannot thank Nick enough for his willingness to always share his experience and expertise with our company’s future leaders. I know he looks forward to spending more time with his family and continuing his civic work, but we will miss him.”

“We are also so excited to have Kathryn join the American Water team,” added Norton. “She has deep utility experience and is committed to safety, excellent customer service and employee development. Kathryn also has a strong environmental background, which is core to American Water’s Environmental Social Governance (ESG) commitment.”

“What an honor it has been to spend an entire career at American Water,” added Rowe. “It is so rewarding to see all this company has accomplished since I joined in 1987, but it is the people that are, and always have been, its greatest strength. I truly look forward to the next chapter in my life and I know Kathryn is going to be a great fit to lead Kentucky American Water.”

Nick Rowe/Photo by Bill Straus. Copyright 2006.