Piedmont Natural Gas Announces Executive Promotions and Management Realignments

CHARLOTTE, N.C., July 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Piedmont Natural Gas (NYSE: PNY) today announced several executive promotions and a realignment of management functions effective August 1, 2011.  

At the senior executive level, Jane Lewis-Raymond, currently Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Corporate Secretary, is being promoted to the position of Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary and Chief Compliance and Community Affairs Officer for the Company.  In addition to her current responsibilities, Ms. Lewis-Raymond will have additional responsibilities for Piedmont's community affairs function, which includes the Company's legislative affairs and community relations efforts, as well as the Piedmont Natural Gas Foundation.  Energy policy analysis, the Company's sustainability program and carbon management strategies will also fall under the direction of Ms. Lewis-Raymond.  Before joining Piedmont Natural Gas in 2006, Ms. Lewis-Raymond served as Vice President of Regulatory Affairs for the American Gas Association.  She received both her undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Maryland.  In addition to other volunteer activities, Ms. Lewis-Raymond serves on the Teach for America Charlotte Board.

In addition to the promotion of Ms. Lewis-Raymond, Piedmont also announced new responsibilities for two other senior executives and the promotion of two other executives at the Company to Vice Presidents of the Company.  

Kevin O'Hara, currently Senior Vice President of Corporate and Community Affairs has been given added responsibility for Piedmont's Information Services organization and for the Company's Enterprise Quality Management and Strategic Portfolio Services group.  He will continue to lead the Company's Human Resources and Corporate Communication functions. Mr. O'Hara's title will change to Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer.

Frank Yoho, currently Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations, has been given added responsibilities for the Company's Field Customer Service group.  The addition of the group to Mr. Yoho's organization will help consolidate the various customer service functions within Piedmont under one organization.  Mr. Yoho's title will change to Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Operations Officer.    

David R. Carpenter, currently Managing Director of Regulatory Affairs for Piedmont, is being promoted to the position of Vice President – Regulatory Affairs, Rates and Budget Administration.  In his new position, Mr. Carpenter will assume additional responsibilities for the Company's budgeting and forecasting activities, and joint venture administration.  Mr. Carpenter will report to Karl Newlin, Piedmont's Senior Vice President for Corporate Planning and Business Development, who will become Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer upon the retirement of Dave Dzuricky effective November 1, 2011.  Mr. Carpenter, a graduate of Furman University, has been with Piedmont since 1982.  

Michael Yount, currently Senior Vice President of Utility Operations, will continue to lead the Company's utility operations and engineering functions as Chief Utility Operations Officer.

Rodney W. Myers, currently Managing Director of Engineering and Operation Services for the Company, is being promoted to the position of Vice President of Engineering and Operation Services where he will continue to report to Michael Yount.  Since coming to Piedmont Natural Gas in 2003, Mr. Myers has served in a variety of capacities including Regional Executive for the Company's northern region in 2009 and Managing Director of LNG (liquefied natural gas) storage projects in 2008.  Mr. Myers is a graduate of North Carolina State University and has an M.B.A. from Queen's University in Charlotte.

Thomas E. Skains, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Piedmont Natural Gas commented on the changes, "The executive promotions and management realignments we are announcing today will help position Piedmont for future long-term success through the delivery of excellent customer service, a focus on process improvement, compliance and safety, and the development of a strong and diverse management team.  I'm excited for each of these individuals and I look forward to their continuing contributions to our success on behalf of our Company, our customers, and our shareholders."

About Piedmont Natural Gas

Piedmont Natural Gas is an energy services company primarily engaged in the distribution of natural gas to more than one million residential, commercial and industrial utility customers in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, including 52,000 customers served by municipalities who are wholesale customers. Our subsidiaries are invested in joint venture, energy- related businesses, including unregulated retail natural gas marketing, interstate natural gas storage and intrastate natural gas transportation. More information about Piedmont Natural Gas is available at www.piedmontng.com.

SOURCE Piedmont Natural Gas