JOHN HUDSON

Senior Vice President, Entergy

John Hudson is senior vice president of Entergy Corporation, a Fortune 500 utility holding company headquartered in New Orleans with more than 3 million customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Hudson provides leadership to key functions focused on Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issues, sustainability and environmental policy, federal government affairs, and corporate social responsibility. He serves as president of the Entergy Charitable Foundation, a company-backed nonprofit supporting under-resourced communities across the organization’s footprint.

Before joining Entergy, Hudson served as president and CEO of Nicor Gas, the largest natural gas utility in Illinois with 2.2 million customers. During his time leading Nicor, the company increased net income by 20.5 percent and set records in its safety, operational and sustainability metrics and KPIs. Hudson was responsible for creating and launching the company’s first social purpose strategy – including an enhanced focus on renewable energy and the Northern Illinois Community Initiatives, a nonprofit focused on racial equity, economic empowerment and community development across the Nicor service area.

Before his role at Nicor, Hudson served as executive VP and chief external affairs officer at Southern Company Gas. He was responsible for the company’s external affairs, customer operations, corporate communications, marketing, economic development and environmental affairs functions. He served as president of the Southern Company Gas Foundation, which focuses on philanthropic and volunteer initiatives.

As part of his commitment to entrepreneurship and philanthropy, Hudson serves as chairman of the board of directors of Bronze Valley Corporation, which he launched to expand entrepreneurship and innovation among people of color in technology. For his work in philanthropy, innovation and entrepreneurship, he was selected for the prestigious Aspen Institute Ascend Fellowship. He also is a member of several boards of directors. Hudson received an executive MBA from Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business, a juris doctor degree from Miles College School of Law and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Alabama A&M University. He also completed the Executive Accounting and Finance Program at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and the Young American Leaders Program at Harvard Business School. He and his wife, Nyya, have one daughter and live in Atlanta.