Susan Hardwick

Former President, Chief Executive Officer & Director, American Water Works

Search every verified Susan Hardwick interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. M. Susan Hardwick, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director of American Water Works, appeared on NYSE Floor Talk in March 2024 and again in March 2025 to discuss water infrastructure investment and her impending retirement. In both appearances, she highlighted the company’s planned investment of over $40 billion over the next decade to replace aging pipes, address contaminants like PFAS, and upgrade systems across its service territories. She noted that American Water serves approximately 14 to 15 million people across 14 states and 28 military bases, and she emphasized the broader challenge of aging infrastructure, stating that the average pipe in the U.S. is about 55 years old and that over 6 billion gallons of treated water are lost daily. Hardwick also discussed the company’s financial performance, citing 7 to 9% annual earnings growth and a similar dividend growth story, which she attributed to infrastructure investment and rate base growth. On the topic of her retirement, she described the moment as bittersweet, expressing pride in the team she built and the foundation laid for the company’s future. She also reflected on her role as a woman in a historically male-dominated industry, saying she was particularly gratified to hold her position and that her legacy includes creating opportunities for her teams to participate in the company’s work.