ATO Atmos Energy Corp

Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:ATO), the nation�s largest natural-gas-only distribution company, today announced a series of leadership changes, which are effective immediately, that should enable it to better focus on its growing Texas pipeline and distribution operations. Dick Erskine, who has been serving as president of both the company�s Mid-Tex Division and Atmos Pipeline-Texas, will focus entirely on the company�s expanding pipeline operations as president of Atmos Pipeline-Texas. John Paris, currently president of the Kentucky/Mid-States Division, will become president of the Mid-Tex Division. �Because of the continued rapid growth of both the Mid-Tex Division and Atmos Pipeline - Texas, coupled with the sheer scale and scope of both of these operations, we are taking steps today that will enable the company to optimize these two very important assets,� said Robert W. Best, chairman, president and chief executive officer. Stepping in to lead the Kentucky/Mid-States Division is Kevin Akers, currently president of the Mississippi Division. And finally, David Gates is being promoted to president of the Mississippi Division. He was most recently vice president of operations for the Kentucky/Mid-States Division. �We are extremely fortunate as an organization to have a team of talented leaders to be able to make changes such as these without disruption to our employees, customers or the communities we serve,� Best said. Erskine has a 30-year track record in the natural gas industry and joined Atmos Energy through its acquisition of the assets of TXU Gas in 2004. With more than 20 years at Atmos Energy, Paris has served as a division president since 2001. Akers is a 10-year veteran and was named president of the Mississippi Division when it was acquired in 2002. Gates joined Atmos more than 15 years ago and has held numerous positions in both engineering and operations in various divisions. About Atmos Energy Atmos Energy Corporation, headquartered in Dallas, is the country�s largest natural-gas-only distributor, serving about 3.2 million gas utility customers. Atmos Energy�s utility operations serve more than 1,500 communities in 12 states from the Blue Ridge Mountains in the East to the Rocky Mountains in the West. Atmos Energy�s nonutility operations, organized under Atmos Energy Holdings, Inc., operate in 22 states. They provide natural gas marketing and procurement services to industrial, commercial and municipal customers and manage company-owned natural gas pipeline and storage assets, including one of the largest intrastate natural gas pipelines in Texas. For more information, visit www.atmosenergy.com. Editors Note: Complete bios and high-resolution photos available at www.atmosenergy.com/news.