Ben Keith named Iowa American Water Director of Business Development and Government Affairs

Iowa American Water (NYSE:AWK) named Ben Keith Director, Business Development and Government Affairs, effective January 20, 2026.

Rhea-AI Summary

Iowa American Water (NYSE:AWK) named Ben Keith Director, Business Development and Government Affairs, effective January 20, 2026. He will lead legislative priorities, public policy engagement, stakeholder outreach, and business development strategy and origination for Iowa American Water.

Keith joins from MidAmerican Energy, where he served as Vice President, Electric Transmission since 2009; he holds a bachelor’s in civil engineering from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville and is a licensed Professional Engineer in Illinois.

Argus Jan 28 session

-2.67% close to close Open Argus

Details

News Market Reaction – AWK

On Jan 28, the day this news came out, AWK closed 2.67% below the previous close.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus for the Jan 28 session.

Key Figures

Role effective date: January 20, 2026 Prior employer tenure: Since 2009

Role effective date

January 20, 2026

Start date for Director, Business Development and Government Affairs role

Prior employer tenure

Since 2009

Ben Keith’s service at MidAmerican Energy Company before joining Iowa American Water

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Jan 23

5 events

1. Jan 23

   Storm preparedness

   24h Move

   -1.4%

   New Jersey American Water prepared systems and customers for a major winter storm.

2. Jan 22

   Cold weather guidance

   24h Move

   -1.4%

   Iowa American Water issued detailed tips for protecting pipes in extreme cold.

3. Jan 22

   Infrastructure funding

   24h Move

   +0.4%

   Pennsylvania American Water secured $6.18M PENNVEST support for upgrades.

4. Jan 21

   Water quality investment

   24h Move

   -0.3%

   California American Water invested $6M in new treatment to meet standards.

5. Jan 20

   Water storage program

   24h Move

   -0.3%

   California ASR program stored over 240 and 715 acre-feet for resilience.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Key Terms

professional engineer (pe)

1 terms

professional engineer (pe) regulatory

"and is licensed as a Professional Engineer (PE) by the Illinois Department"

A professional engineer (PE) is a licensed engineer who has met education, experience, and exam requirements and is legally authorized to approve, stamp, or take legal responsibility for engineering designs and safety-critical decisions. For investors, a PE on a project or in management signals reduced technical and regulatory risk—similar to having a certified pilot for a flight—because it improves credibility of engineering claims, helps ensure compliance, and can limit liability exposure.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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DAVENPORT, Iowa, Jan. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Iowa American Water announced today it welcomed Ben Keith to the role of Director, Business Development and Government Affairs for the company, effective January 20, 2026.

In this role, Ben will focus on legislative priorities, drive change in public policy, and amplify our efforts in external stakeholder engagement. Additionally, Ben will lead Business Development for Iowa American Water, focusing on strategy and origination.

"We are thrilled to have Ben take on this new role at Iowa American Water," said Iowa American Water President Brad Nielsen. "Ben has a wealth of experience in many aspects of the regulated utility business and has held multiple operational leadership roles that give him the perfect background for his new role with Iowa American Water."

Ben comes to Iowa American Water from MidAmerican Energy Company where he was Vice President, Electric Transmission. He worked for that company since 2009 where he held roles of increasing responsibility in the areas of operational excellence, engineering, capital planning, project management, and customer and stakeholder engagement.

Ben has a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville and is licensed as a Professional Engineer (PE) by the Illinois Department of Professional and Financial Regulation.

About American Water 
American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886, We Keep Life Flowing® by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people with regulated operations in 14 states and on 18 military installations. American Water's 6,700 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company's national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders. 

For more information, visit amwater.com and join American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and Instagram.  

About Iowa American Water
Iowa American Water, a subsidiary of American Water is the largest regulated water utility in the state, providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable water and wastewater services to approximately 227,000 people.

For more information, visit iowaamwater.com and follow Iowa American Water on Facebook, X and LinkedIn.

Media Contact:
Lisa Reisen, Senior Manager - External Communications
563-343-6127
lisa.reisen@amwater.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ben-keith-named-iowa-american-water-director-of-business-development-and-government-affairs-302673151.html

SOURCE American Water

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

Who is Ben Keith and what role did he assume at Iowa American Water (AWK) on January 20, 2026?

Ben Keith was named Director, Business Development and Government Affairs at Iowa American Water, effective January 20, 2026. According to the company, he will lead policy, stakeholder engagement, and business development strategy and origination for the Iowa business unit.

What responsibilities will Ben Keith have as Director of Business Development and Government Affairs at AWK?

He will focus on legislative priorities, public policy change, external stakeholder engagement, and business development origination. According to the company, his remit covers strategy, government affairs, and expanding external partnerships in Iowa.

What is Ben Keith’s professional background prior to joining Iowa American Water (AWK)?

Ben Keith previously served as Vice President, Electric Transmission at MidAmerican Energy since 2009. According to the company, he held roles in operational excellence, engineering, capital planning, project management, and stakeholder engagement.

Does Ben Keith hold engineering credentials relevant to his role at Iowa American Water (AWK)?

Yes. Ben Keith holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and is a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) in Illinois. According to the company, these credentials support his technical and leadership responsibilities in regulated utility operations.

How might Ben Keith’s appointment affect Iowa American Water (AWK) government affairs and business development efforts?

The company expects Keith to strengthen legislative outreach and stakeholder engagement while advancing business origination strategies. According to the company, his operational and transmission leadership experience is intended to support policy and growth initiatives in Iowa.