Eugene Water and Power CEO and General Manager Frank Lawson will retire in spring 2026, after a decade in the top leadership position at the utility.
EWEB, which is Oregon’s largest customer-owned electric utility, has launched a nationwide search for Lawson’s successor.
Lawson joined EWEB in 2010 after a 25-year career in which he gained technical and management experience in various areas including engineering, marketing, operations, customer service, sales, and finance. EWEB’s elected Board of Commissioners selected him as the general manager in 2016 after a similar nationwide search.
“This is one of the most important choices we will make as an elected Board,” said EWEB Board President John Barofsky, reflecting a sentiment shared by all EWEB commissioners. “The general manager is our liaison to the utility and they are responsible for the management and operation of it. Frank has done a stellar job leading the utility, and we are looking for someone who can build on his legacy and fulfill the Board’s vision.”
Lawson announced his planned retirement at a public meeting in early August, setting a tentative target of spring 2026 for his departure. The lengthy notice is intended to give EWEB’s elected Board adequate time to recruit, negotiate with, and onboard a successor.
The general manager will lead the development and implementation of strategic plans to ensure the utility continues to be proactive and responsive to its customers, employees, and the general public and conducts utility business in accordance with legal and regulatory requirements, sound financial management practices, contract terms, policies and objectives established by the Board of Commissioners.
EWEB’s Board of Commissioners will follow an aggressive schedule to identify a successor, with the goal of allowing some overlap between Lawson and the incoming general manager.
The Board will contract with a recruiting firm to assist in the process. Initial candidate search and screening will occur in October and November, with a short list selection by early December. Likely two rounds of interviews will take place in December and January, with final selection in targeted for February.
“Candidates should start thinking about whether they want to apply and should start working on their application materials now,” said EWEB Chief People Officer Diedre Williams. “We’re looking for candidates with deep experience and a commitment to EWEB’s values. This will be a careful selection process, and we want to ensure that after the Board chooses the final candidate, we have ample time for a smooth transition.”
