NorthWestern Energy announced that Bob Rowe will retire as member of NorthWestern Energy's board of directors at the end of 2022. As part of a planned leadership succession process, the NorthWestern Energy board of directors appointed Brian B. Bird, currently the company's president and chief operating officer, to serve as Rowe's successor. Effective Jan.

1, 2023, Bird will assume the title and responsibilities of president and chief executive officer and become a member of NorthWestern Energy's board of directors. For the remainder of 2022, Rowe will continue to work closely with Bird in support of a smooth transition, which began in February 2021 when the board approved a modification to the executive leadership team that named Bird president and chief operating officer. Mr. Bird, 59, has been with NorthWestern since 2003, serving as its President and Chief Operating Officer (since 2021) and, prior to that, its Chief Financial Officer (2003 – 2021).

There is no arrangement or understanding between Mr. Bird and any other persons pursuant to which Mr. Bird was selected as an officer, and there are no family relationships between Mr. Bird and any of its directors or executive officers. As long as Mr. Bird is an employee of NorthWestern, he will not be entitled to additional compensation for his role as a director of NorthWestern.