Today, the Nashville Electric Service announced Laine Arnold will join the executive team as the first chief communications officer to the 11th largest public utility in the country.
Arnold is a founding partner of BHA Strategy, a Nashville-based public affairs firm, where she leads the strategic and crisis communications vertical. Previously, she served in Gov. Lee’s cabinet as communications director.
“Laine is a respected communicator who has worked across highly-regulated industries and understands both the challenges and opportunities facing utilities,” said CEO Teresa Broyles-Aplin. “I believe her tested leadership is core to operationalizing all the improvements we have made under the Four Pillars to serve our customers well.”
Arnold’s expertise includes a strong background in communications strategy, message clarity, stakeholder engagement, and organizational alignment. Her perspective will help NES communicate more consistently and effectively across the organization and its customers and communities.
“I look forward to working with the NES workforce and the Electric Power Board to reliably serve our customers and continue modernizing the utility,” said Arnold. “As a former public servant and lifelong Nashvillian, I believe in the mission of NES and how critical the utility’s performance is to the overall quality of life in Middle Tennessee.”
Her portfolio at NES will include internal and external communication and working closely with customer service, economic development, community and government relations, and the Electric Power Board.
Arnold joins NES in mid-July as the utility operationalizes a series of improvements under the Four Pillars initiative including: formalizing emergency management leadership, reconciling all gaps in customer communication, addressing estimated time of restoration, and assessing how to underground more lines and better maintain above ground lines.
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