Board Member: Rod West

Rod West was named executive vice president and chief administrative officer for Entergy on June 7, 2010.  As CAO, West oversees the legal, human resources and administration, public affairs, federal policy, regulatory and governmental affairs, and corporate communications organizations.

West is a proven, hands-on leader. He previously served as the president and chief executive officer of Entergy New Orleans, Inc., where he was responsible for ENOI’s financial and operational performance, customer service, regulatory and governmental relations, economic development programs, external and internal communications, charitable contributions, and environmental policy.

During his tenure at ENOI, West was credited with managing the rebuild of critical aspects of the New Orleans infrastructure after Hurricane Katrina and for leading Entergy New Orleans out of bankruptcy. In addition, he oversaw the industry’s largest natural gas rebuild effort in history - the replacement of approximately 860 miles of underground pipe damaged after Hurricane Katrina. The project was named by the Platts Global Energy Awards as the 2009 Global Infrastructure Project of the Year.

West’s rise to Entergy’s CAO position began when he joined the Entergy Corporation as senior regulatory counsel in April 1999 at the Fortune 500 Company’s headquarters. In that department, he led Entergy’s regulatory transition team in obtaining the necessary government approvals for the proposed merger with Florida Power and Light. By April 2001, West was named director of the Entergy New Orleans regulatory affairs department where he managed the 2000-2001 natural gas crisis that drove customer bills beyond levels of affordability. During that crisis, West helped Entergy earn a reputation as one of the most pro-customer utilities in the nation. He also managed the company’s rate case that resulted in increased allowable earnings, and its first profitable position in years - while actually lowering customer bills thanks to power purchase contracts that brought cheaper power into the city.

In December 2003, West became director of the company’s electric distribution operations, managing hundreds of employees responsible for the daily maintenance and operation of the electric grid. The role positioned him to lead that team after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck the city.

Before joining Entergy, West was a senior attorney in the New Orleans office of Vial, Hamilton, Koch & Knox, L.L.P. commercial litigation department. He also spent five years with the New Orleans-based firm of Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrere & Denegre, L.L.P. West is a member of the State Bar of Louisiana.

He is recognized for an intense focus on charitable and community efforts concentrating on education, healthcare, economic development and the rebuilding of south Louisiana and New Orleans. West is a member of the board of directors of First Bank and Trust, the Allstate Sugar Bowl and the Edison Electric Institute. In May 2009, West was named to the University of Notre Dame Board of Trustees. West is a member of both the Executive Leadership Council and Sigma Pi Phi fraternity.  He also served on the Louisiana State University System Board of Supervisors. 

West received his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Notre Dame where he lettered three years as outside linebacker and tight end for Lou Holtz and the Fighting Irish’s 1988 National Championship football team. He received his Juris Doctor from the Tulane University School of Law in 1993 and his Masters of Business Administration degree from Tulane University in 2005. He graduated from Brother Martin High School in New Orleans in 1986.