A Diverse, Engaged Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors possess relevant expertise and skills and represent a diverse mix of professional experience, backgrounds and perspectives appropriate to oversee our company’s businesses and operations.
CenterPoint Energy’s Board of Directors serves as the company’s ultimate decision-making body. The Board oversees executive management, long-term business strategy and performance, succession planning, enterprise risk management and ESG responsibilities, among other things. Through oversight, review and counsel, the Board establishes and supports the company’s business, organizational and strategic objectives.
Our Board is chaired by Mr. Martin H. Nesbitt. Our Chief Executive Officer, Mr. David J. Lesar, serves as a member of our Board but does not serve as a member of any of its standing committees. Except for Mr. Lesar, all members of the Board are independent according to the standards established by the New York Stock Exchange.
Our Board of Directors believes that having a diverse mix of directors with complementary qualifications, skills and expertise is essential to effectively discharging its oversight responsibility while advancing the company’s long-term business strategy. Accordingly, the Board is focused on striking an appropriate balance between retaining directors with a deep knowledge of the company and adding new directors with a fresh perspective.
CenterPoint Energy Board of Directors
As of April 21, 2023
Martin H. Nesbitt
Independent Chairman of the Board
Wendy Montoya Cloonan
Earl M. Cummings
Christopher H. Franklin
David J. Lesar
Raquelle W. Lewis
Theodore F. Pound
Phillip R. Smith
Barry T. Smitherman
*Per our Board Charter, a minimum of four meetings are held per year.
Board Diversity
4/9
Diverse
Diverse Member
Race or Ethnicity
Women
Board Tenure
7/9
Tenure
≤5 years
0 – 5 Years
6 – 10 Years
Board Diversity
Board Tenure
As of April 21, 2023
Executive Succession Planning and Leadership Development
The Board, in conjunction with management, is refreshing its current executive succession plan for the company, which, among other things, is intended to identify senior executive talent and provide development opportunities. We also believe in the importance of continuing to build a strong pipeline of capable leadership and strive to do just that through our leadership development programs conducted by CNP University, our corporate university.
Our Board of Directors collectively represents the following backgrounds, key skills and competencies:
- Regulated Electric / Natural Gas Distribution Utility Experience
- Public Company Board Service
- Current or Recent Public Company Senior Executive Officer
- Legal and Regulatory Experience
- Strategic Planning / Mergers and Acquisitions Experience
- Corporate Governance Experience
- Accounting, Banking and Financial Literacy
- Risk Management Experience
- Human Capital Management Experience
- Business Operations Experience
- Natural Gas / Oil Midstream Experience
- Executive Compensation Experience
- Technology Experience
- Communications / Crisis Management
- Construction / Capital Projects
- Community Relationships / Non-Profit or Charitable Board Service
To learn more about the company’s Board of Directors, including individual biographies, visit the Leadership section of CenterPointEnergy.com.