Atmos Energy Corporation Names Haefner as President and Chief Executive Officer; Cocklin Named Executive Chairman

DALLAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE: ATO) today announced that its Board of
Directors has appointed Michael E. Haefner, currently President and
Chief Operating Officer, to the position of President and Chief
Executive Officer, effective October 1, 2017. In addition, the Board has
appointed Kim R. Cocklin, currently Chief Executive Officer, to the
position of Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors, effective
October 1, 2017. Robert W. Best, currently Chairman of the Board of
Directors, will continue to serve as a Director on the Board after
October 1, 2017.

The Board has planned for this succession for several years, initially
appointing Haefner as Executive Vice President, effective October 1,
2014, and then promoting him to President and Chief Operating Officer on
October 1, 2015. Haefner, 57, joined Atmos Energy in 2008 as Senior Vice
President of Human Resources after serving in leadership positions at
Sabre Holdings Corporation, American Airlines and Eastman Kodak. Mike
has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from St. John Fisher College in
Rochester, New York and a master’s degree in computer science from the
State University of New York at Buffalo.

“The Atmos Board has always made leadership development and executive
succession planning one of its most salient priorities,” said Cocklin.
“Mike has built a strong management team and the Board has every
confidence that the Company will continue to grow and thrive under
Mike’s leadership.”

“We have a great Company and I look forward to continuing to work with
Kim, our Board of Directors, our leadership team and the over 4,700
committed and dedicated employees to add to our strong foundation and
future success,” said Haefner.

Bob Best served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer from 1997 to
October 1, 2010, when he assumed the sole title of Chairman of the
Board. “We are deeply indebted to Bob for his charismatic leadership,
for leading the Company’s growth from 700,000 customers to over
3,000,000 customers and for coaching and mentoring most of the senior
leaders in the Company,” said Cocklin. “Bob created an employee focused,
high performance culture and he will continue to be an important and
instrumental part of the Company as a member of the Board of Directors.”

About Atmos Energy

Atmos Energy Corporation, headquartered in Dallas, is the country’s
largest fully-regulated, natural-gas-only distributor, serving over
three million natural gas distribution customers in over 1,400
communities in eight states from the Blue Ridge Mountains in the East to
the Rocky Mountains in the West. Atmos Energy also manages company-owned
natural gas pipeline and storage assets, including one of the largest
intrastate natural gas pipeline systems in Texas. For more information,
visit www.atmosenergy.com.

Contacts

Atmos Energy Corporation
Susan Giles, 972-855-3729