M. Susan Hardwick is the President and CEO of American Water Works Company, Inc. since February 2022. Before taking on this role, she served as the Chief Financial Officer at the company, stepping in as Interim CEO when the previous...

M. Susan Hardwick is the President and CEO of American Water Works Company, Inc. since February 2022. Before taking on this role, she served as the Chief Financial Officer at the company, stepping in as Interim CEO when the previous CEO was injured. Hardwick has a strong background in finance, having worked for Vectren Corporation for nearly 20 years where she climbed the ranks to CFO. She kicked off her career at Arthur Andersen, so she knows the ropes of the business world pretty well. Under her leadership, American Water Works focuses on customer satisfaction and environmental compliance, making sure they keep up with the set standards in the utility industry. Interestingly, in 2023, her total compensation reached $2 million, primarily from her salary and stock holdings. Susan had periods of high activity in stock trading back in 2020, reaching values of around $6.70 million, and she continues to hold a significant portfolio today. This shows she has skin in the game. Also notable is her engagement with shareholders: she has actively participated in discussions about company governance and performance. Hardwick makes sure shareholder interests align with company goals, which is essential in the utility sector.