$2.3 billion American Water Works Company, the largest investor-owned U.S. water and wastewater utility company, has named Kellye Walker senior vice president, general counsel, and secretary. Walker replaces George Patrick, who is retiring after serving the company since 1999.

Walker most recently served as senior vice president and general counsel at premium spirits company, Diageo North America, a subsidiary of multinational, London-based Diageo. Her responsibilities included corporate and commercial legal matters such as mergers and acquisitions, human resources and labor relations, procurement, and regulatory compliance. Prior to Diageo, Walker also served as senior vice president, general counsel, and secretary at BJ's Wholesale Club.

Earlier in her career, Walker was a partner at numerous law firms, including Hill & Barlow in Boston, Mass; Chaffe, McCall, Phillips, Toler & Sarpy in New Orleans; and Boult, Cummings, Conners & Berry in Nashville, Tenn.