[LOGO OMITTED] EXHIBIT 99.1
News Release
NYSE:NOR
Contacts:
Investors/Media:
Roger Schrum
605-978-2848
roger.schrum@northwestern.com
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NORTHWESTERN'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTS GARY G. DROOK
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
MICHAEL J. HANSON ELECTED CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Aug. 20, 2003 - The Board of Directors of NorthWestern
Corporation (NYSE:NOR) today announced the election of Gary G. Drook as
President and Chief Executive Officer. In addition, Michael J. Hanson was
elected to the position of Chief Operating Officer for the corporation.
Drook was elected interim Chief Executive Officer on Jan. 5, 2003, and
has been guiding the Company through its announced turnaround efforts.
"On behalf of the board, we are pleased that Gary has agreed to become
NorthWestern's President and CEO and will continue to lead the restructuring of
the company," said Marilyn Seymann, NorthWestern's Board Chair. "In the past
several months, Gary has established a new leadership team, developed and is
implementing our restructuring strategy and has tackled a number of important
issues including improving the Company's internal controls."
Drook previously was president and chief executive officer of AFFINA,
Inc. a Peoria, Ill., provider of customer relationship management programs.
Prior to joining AFFINA, Drook was president of Network Services, Enhanced
Business Services and Yellow Pages for Ameritech Corporation. He has served as a
director of NorthWestern since 1998.
Drook also announced that William M. Austin, who was appointed Chief
Restructuring Officer in April 2003, has taken on the additional responsibility
for cash management activities, while executing the Company's plans to sell
noncore assets and working to reduce and restructure the Company's debt. Austin
is also serving as lead executive of Expanets, NorthWestern's communications
services business, which includes providing day-to-day operational oversight.
Drook said that Hanson will continue to lead the operations of
NorthWestern's core electric and natural gas utility operations and will have
responsibility for the strategic direction of the utility business along with
taking on the additional responsibility for human resources management.
"Mike has continued to provide strong leadership for our core utility
operations while making sure we provide our customers with award-winning
reliable and cost-competitive energy services," said Drook. "NorthWestern's
restructuring efforts are linked to our regulated utility operations. It is
important that we have a top utility veteran leading our operations, and Mike's
experience and demonstrated leadership makes him an important member of our
leadership team."
Hanson joined NorthWestern in 1998 as president and CEO of the Company's
South Dakota and Nebraska utility operations. Following the acquisition of the
utility operations of the former Montana Power Company in 2002, he took on the
additional responsibility of the integrated utility operations as president and
CEO of NorthWestern Energy. Prior to joining NorthWestern, Hanson was general
manager and CEO of Northern States Power's South Dakota and North Dakota
operations. He worked for NSP for nearly 20 years in various financial, legal
and operating leadership positions. Hanson holds a Bachelor of Science degree
from the University of Wisconsin and a Juris Doctor degree from the William
Mitchell College of Law.
About NorthWestern
NorthWestern Corporation is one of the largest providers of electricity
and natural gas in the Upper Midwest and Northwest, serving more than 598,000
customers in Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. NorthWestern also has
investments in Expanets, Inc., a nationwide provider of networked communications
and data services to small and mid-sized businesses; and Blue Dot Services Inc.,
a provider of heating, ventilation and air conditioning services to residential
and commercial customers.
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