Portland, Oregon, United States, October 2025 — Kyra Patterson has joined NW Natural as Chief People Officer, bringing with her a distinguished career in strategic human resources leadership, organizational transformation, and diversity and inclusion. In her new role, Kyra will oversee Human Resources, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI), and Safety initiatives across NW Natural Holdings, guiding people and culture strategies that foster safety, inclusivity, and sustainable growth.
Before joining NW Natural, Kyra served as Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Avangrid, a leading sustainable energy company, where she spent over eight years in progressive HR leadership roles. During her tenure, she led large-scale cultural transformation initiatives, succession planning frameworks, and workforce strategy for North American operations. She was also instrumental in implementing employee engagement programs and leadership development initiatives that strengthened the company’s talent pipeline and inclusive culture.
Earlier, Kyra served as Head of Human Resources at HAI Group, where she drove human capital strategy for a family of companies serving the public and affordable housing sectors. Her contributions included modernizing HR systems, introducing employee engagement frameworks, and enhancing organizational effectiveness through data-driven decision-making and employee empowerment.
Prior to that, Kyra spent six impactful years at Diageo, where she held multiple leadership roles, including Director of Diversity and Inclusion and HR Director for various global business units. She designed and implemented diversity strategies that aligned business goals with DEI initiatives, led cultural transformation programs, and partnered with senior leaders to embed inclusion into leadership practices worldwide. Her earlier career includes key HR positions at C&S Wholesale Grocers, Sears, International Paper, The Ohio State University Medical Center, and four years of service as a Lieutenant Junior Grade (LTJG) in the U.S. Navy, where she honed her leadership, discipline, and people management skills.
With a career spanning more than two decades across diverse sectors—energy, consumer goods, retail, and manufacturing—Kyra brings a deep understanding of strategic workforce planning, leadership development, and operational excellence. Her appointment marks a significant step for NW Natural as it continues to invest in its people, strengthen DEI initiatives, and reinforce its culture of safety and high performance.
About NW Natural
NW Natural (NYSE: NWN) is a leading natural gas distribution company serving approximately 2 million people across Oregon and Southwest Washington through more than 800,000 meters. With one of the most modern and efficient pipeline systems in the nation, NW Natural has consistently led the industry in customer satisfaction, as recognized by J.D. Power & Associates. The company’s mission is to deliver energy safely and reliably while advancing environmental stewardship, community engagement, and operational excellence across all its operations.
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