Constellation, the leading U.S. producer of reliable, emissions-free energy, has announced changes to its board of directors. Peter Oppenheimer and Eileen Paterson will join the board on December 16, 2024, while Laurie Brlas, an independent director with a long tenure, will retire on December 31, 2024. The changes highlight Constellation’s commitment to ensuring diverse expertise and strategic insight as the company navigates a period of growth and innovation.
Welcoming New Directors
Robert J. Lawless, chairman of Constellation, emphasized the significance of the appointments, stating, “Peter and Eileen bring a combination of strong financial acuity, operational experience, and business leadership expertise that will help guide Constellation through this exciting period of growth and innovation.”
Peter Oppenheimer joins the board with a wealth of experience in financial management and strategic leadership. Since 2014, he has served on the board of directors at Goldman Sachs, where he chairs the Audit Committee. He also leads the board of Goldman Sachs Bank USA. Oppenheimer previously served as Apple’s chief financial officer from 2004 to 2014, overseeing a period of tremendous growth and innovation. Under his financial leadership, Apple launched groundbreaking products such as the iPhone and iPad, achieving unprecedented profitability. Before his tenure at Apple, Oppenheimer worked as the divisional CFO at ADP, a global leader in payment processing, and as a consultant at Coopers & Lybrand, which later became PricewaterhouseCoopers. His experience managing complex financial ecosystems will be an asset to Constellation as the company continues its focus on emissions-free energy innovation.
Eileen Paterson, a seasoned executive with extensive experience in the aerospace, defense, and energy industries, brings operational and strategic expertise to Constellation’s board. Paterson is a former CEO of Aerojet Rocketdyne, an aerospace and defense manufacturing company, and currently serves on the boards of Marathon Petroleum Corporation and Woodward, Inc. At Marathon Petroleum, she contributes to the Sustainability and Public Policy Committee and the Compensation and Organization Development Committee. At Woodward, she chairs the Nominating and Governance Committee and is a member of the Human Capital and Compensation Committee.
Paterson’s career includes leadership roles at Pratt & Whitney AeroPower, Ford Motor Company, and Visteon Corporation. Her accomplishments span managing auxiliary power units and small turbojet propulsion systems, providing deep operational and technological insight. Additionally, Paterson is a U.S. Army veteran, having served as an aviator on active duty. Her commitment to sustainability and innovation aligns well with Constellation’s vision for advancing clean energy solutions.
Recognizing Laurie Brlas
As Peter Oppenheimer and Eileen Paterson join the board, Constellation bids farewell to Laurie Brlas, whose tenure has been marked by exceptional contributions. Brlas has played a key role since joining the board following Constellation’s spin-off in 2022. With 16 years of experience as a chief financial officer in global, capital-intensive industries, she has brought a unique perspective to the company’s governance and strategy.
Brlas served as the chair of Constellation’s Audit & Risk Committee, where she helped establish robust governance frameworks and provided oversight of the company’s financial performance and risk management. Lawless expressed gratitude for her service, noting, “We are deeply grateful to Laurie for her many years of service to the board, including her strategic and financial insight and guidance, which were instrumental in Constellation’s performance since its successful spinoff. Constellation’s board and management team greatly appreciate and value her many contributions, professionalism, and expertise.”
Strengthening the Board for Future Growth
The addition of Oppenheimer and Paterson underscores Constellation’s focus on driving its mission to provide reliable, emissions-free energy while maintaining a strong financial position. With Oppenheimer’s experience in financial oversight at leading global organizations and Paterson’s operational expertise across industries, Constellation is well-positioned to meet its strategic goals and contribute to a sustainable energy future.
As the company continues to expand its portfolio of emissions-free energy projects and innovations, the diverse experiences of its board members will be critical to achieving its mission of creating a cleaner, more sustainable energy system for the nation. The new appointments reinforce Constellation’s commitment to leveraging top-tier leadership to navigate the evolving energy landscape.
