Atmos Energy 2008 Annual Report Download - page 9

ATMOS ENERGY 2008 SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORT | 7
natural gas distribution companies. Extending this limit on
the capital gains tax could help raise new funding and main-
tain investors’ condence. We encourage you to ask your
members of Congress to vote to preserve the full value of your
dividends by making the capital gains cap permanent.
Leadership changes
announced
One of the most important duties of senior management is
to prepare for the continued successful leadership of the
business. As part of our succession planning, we made two
high-level management changes.
Kim R. Cocklin, who had served as senior vice president,
regulated operations, since June 2006, was promoted to the
newly created position of president and chief operating ocer,
eective October 1, 2008. Kim has had extensive experience
in all segments of the natural gas industry and has proved
himself to be an excellent leader. In his current role, he oversees
all regulated and nonregulated operations of the company.
Michael E. Haefner was named senior vice president,
human resources, to succeed Wynn D. McGregor, who
retired October 1, 2008. Mike had been president of his own
consulting rm and had worked for 10 years as senior vice
president of human resources for Sabre Holdings Corpora-
tion. He also had held leadership positions within Sabre while
it was part of AMR Corporation and at Xerox Corporation
and Eastman Kodak Company.
Wynn McGregor, who joined Atmos Energy in 1987, had
served as senior vice president, human resources, since
October 2005. Previously, he had been vice president, human
resources, for 11 years and had held other human-resources
management positions at Atmos Energy and other companies.
We appreciate his long and distinguished service.
We also announced on December 2, 2008, that J. Patrick
Reddy resigned as senior vice president and chief nancial
ocer, eective December 31. Pat joined the company in 1998
and served as vice president, corporate development, and as
treasurer before being promoted to his current position in
2000. During his tenure, Atmos Energy made ve signicant
acquisitions to more than triple in size. On behalf of the board
of directors, I thank him for his many contributions and wish
him the best.
In the interim, Fred E. Meisenheimer, vice president and
controller, has been appointed by the board of directors to also
serve as chief nancial ocer.
On September 1, we welcomed Ruben E. Esquivel to the
board of directors. Mr. Esquivel is vice president for
community and corporate relations at e University of
Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. Previously, he
served for more than a decade as president and CEO and
as vice chairman of a manufacturer of test and measurement
equipment for electrical power applications. He has been
extremely active in Dallas civic aairs and has been honored
repeatedly for his tireless commitment to the community.
Our brand
represents strength
Twenty years ago, the board of directors chose the name
Atmos Energy not only to dierentiate a developing enter-
prise, but also to distinguish its way of doing business. As
Atmos Energy has grown because of the board’s clear vision,
it has become a major American company, and our brand has
come to reect a set of consistent characteristics. In these
unsettled times, our employees demonstrate these qualities
everyday in all they do, and I thank them for their loyal
and dedicated service.
Our annual report presents the four characteristics of our
brand and what the enterprise stands for today. More than
a trademark, our brand represents the strength of our
reputation. It is one of our most valuable assets—if not the
most valuable one of all.
Robert W. Best
Chairman and Chief Executive Ocer
December 5, 2008
BLUE SKIES, CLEAR SKIES
Net Income by Segment
Natural Gas Distribution
Regulated Transmission and Storage
Natural Gas Marketing
Pipeline, Storage and Other
23%
17%
9%
51%