San Jose Water Announces Willie Brown as Vice President - General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

Rhea-AI Summary

San Jose Water (SJW) announced the appointment of Willie Brown as Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary, effective June 1. Previously Corporate Secretary and Assistant General Counsel, Brown joined the company in 2008. He will oversee corporate governance and legal matters, among other responsibilities. Eric W. Thornburg, CEO of SJW Group, praised Brown's commitment to governance, resulting in a '1' rating from ISS for the company. Brown holds a Juris Doctorate from Georgetown University and has experience in venture capital and mergers and acquisitions.

Positive

• Willie Brown appointed as Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, enhancing leadership team.
• Company received a '1' rating from ISS for governance, reflecting strong management practices.

Negative

• None.

San Jose Water (“SJW” or “the Company”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of SJW Group (NYSE: SJW), announced today that Willie Brown has been appointed by the SJW Group Board of Directors to serve as Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. Prior to this, Mr. Brown served as Corporate Secretary and Assistant General Counsel. In this new role, he will also be a member of the company’s Executive Leadership Team and an officer of SJW Group. Mr. Brown joined San Jose Water in 2008 as an attorney.

(Photo: Business Wire)

“Willie is a great addition to the Executive Leadership Team,” stated Eric W. Thornburg, President and CEO of SJW Group. Mr. Thornburg added, “In his 13 years at SJW, Willie has demonstrated his passion and skill for serving customers, employees and shareholders. SJW Group has a “1” rating from ISS for governance, the highest possible, largely due to the commitment of Willie and his colleagues to ensure our processes align with best practices. I look forward to his counsel, perspective and the impact he will have on our organization in his expanded leadership role.”

His new leadership responsibilities began the week of June 1. Among his responsibilities in his new role, Mr. Brown will oversee corporate governance, legal matters, contract negotiation and management, and management of outside counsel. Mr. Brown’s team supports company financings, mergers and acquisitions, SEC filings, executive compensation, internal controls, policy development and implementation, enterprise risk management and other company business functions.

Mr. Brown commented, “I am eager to take on this new role and join our Executive Leadership Team as we continue to advance important company initiatives that will serve our customers, employees, communities and shareholders.”

His past experience includes start-up representation, venture capital financing and mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Brown is also actively engaged in SJW Group’s National Diversity and Equity Council and its Corporate Sustainability team. He is passionate about community service as the current Chair of the Civil Service Commission of the City of Santa Clara, and as a board member of two nonprofits. He, his husband, and their twin sons reside in Santa Clara, CA.

Willie has a Juris Doctorate (JD) degree from Georgetown University Law Center and a BA from the University of California, Berkeley. He also proudly served his country as a Sergeant in the United States Air Force.

About San Jose Water

Founded in 1866, San Jose Water is an investor owned public utility, and is one of the largest and most technically sophisticated urban water systems in the United States. The company serves over one million people in the greater San Jose metropolitan area. San Jose Water is owned by SJW Group, a publicly traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol SJW. SJW Group also owns: The Connecticut Water Company in Connecticut; Maine Water Company in Maine; and SJWTX, Inc. (dba Canyon Lake Water Service Company) in Texas. To learn more about San Jose Water, visit: sjwater.com.

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Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Some of these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “believes,” “expects,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seeks,” “approximately,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates,” “projects,” “strategy,” or “anticipates,” or the negative of those words or other comparable terminology.

These forward-looking statements are only predictions and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict. The accuracy of such statements is subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions including, but not limited to, the following factors: (1) the effect of water, utility, environmental and other governmental policies and regulations, including actions concerning rates, authorized return on equity, authorized capital structures, capital expenditures and other decisions; (2) changes in demand for water and other services; (3) the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business operation and financial results; (4) unanticipated weather conditions and changes in seasonality; (5) climate change and the effects thereof; (6) unexpected costs, charges or expenses; (7) our ability to successfully evaluate investments in new business and growth initiatives; (8) the risk of work stoppages, strikes and other labor-related actions; (9) catastrophic events such as fires, earthquakes, explosions, floods, ice storms, tornadoes, hurricanes, terrorist acts, physical attacks, cyber-attacks, or other similar occurrences; (10) changes in general economic, political, business and financial market conditions; (11) the ability to obtain financing on favorable terms, which can be affected by various factors, including credit ratings, changes in interest rates, compliance with regulatory requirements, compliance with the terms and conditions of our outstanding indebtedness, and general stock and debt market conditions; and (12) legislative and general market and economic developments.

In addition, actual results are subject to other risks and uncertainties that relate more broadly to our overall business, including those more fully described in SJW Group’s filings with the SEC, including the most recent reports on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance, and speak only as of the date made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements except as required by law.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210628005724/en/

FAQ

Who is Willie Brown in San Jose Water's leadership team?

Willie Brown has been appointed as Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary of San Jose Water.

What are Willie Brown's responsibilities at SJW?

Willie Brown will oversee corporate governance, legal matters, and management of outside counsel, among other duties.

When did Willie Brown's new role at SJW begin?

Willie Brown's new role began the week of June 1.

What is San Jose Water's ISS governance rating?

San Jose Water has received a '1' rating from ISS for governance, the highest possible rating.

How long has Willie Brown been with San Jose Water?

Willie Brown has been with San Jose Water since 2008.