Mr Sheets began his 21-year career with the company as a litigation attorney. He was promoted through various positions within the regulatory affairs and legal affairs departments, ultimately becoming an officer and general counsel in 1997 before assuming the role of senior vice president of legal affairs and general counsel in 2000.

The company also announced the promotion of Karen Haller to vice president, deputy general counsel and compliance officer. She will assume the role of general counsel upon Mr Sheets’s retirement in September 2008.

Ms Haller began her career with Southwest Gas in 1997 as a senior attorney within the legal affairs department. She assumed the role of associate general counsel in 1998 and the assistant general counsel role in 2000. In 2006, she was promoted to assistant general counsel and director of legal affairs.