Sioux Falls, SD-based NorthWestern Energy Corp. announced a change at the top Wednesday with its CEO Michael Hanson, 49, resigning and former Montana Public Service Commission (PSC) member Bob Rowe, 53, being named to replace him.

NorthWestern’s three-state utility operations increasingly have been dominated by its Montana distribution and transmission holdings. Hanson will remain in a consulting role at the utility holding company, but no other plans for his future endeavors were given, nor any reason for his sudden departure from a position he has held the last three years, covering most of the period since the company emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November 2004.

NorthWestern Chairman E. Linn Draper touted Hanson’s “leadership and significant contributions” and emphasized that he thought Rowe was an “excellent leader to carry on.” Draper said the former Montana regulator was well known to the board and the company’s management team. A company spokesperson said there were no other changes contemplated in the NorthWestern management team.

A lawyer and cofounder of telecommunications and energy consulting firm Balhoff, Rowe & Williams, the new CEO said he is “strongly committed” to the part of the country where NorthWestern is serving 650,000 residents and businesses (Montana, Nebraska and South Dakota).

A published report characterized Rowe as having a national reputation for his expertise in telecommunications as a member and later chairman of the Montana PSC (1992-2004) during a period in which the pendulum swung widely from a push for total deregulation and a breaking up of the energy assets in the old Montana Power Co. to now a return to rate-based utility emphasis.

“NorthWestern is one of the most important institutions in each of the communities we serve,” Rowe said. “The opportunity to help lead NorthWestern and work with its exceptional employees is a natural extension of my 20-plus year career working on energy and utility matters.”

Rowe will operate out of offices in both Butte, Montana, and Sioux Falls, but a company spokesperson said the NorthWestern headquarters will remain in South Dakota.

Hanson said he is “proud of what the company accomplished,” and he sees it as “well positioned” for the future under Rowe’s leadership. No details were given on his role as a consultant.

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