COLUMBUS, Ohio, Dec. 6, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- American
Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) has made organizational and
executive leadership changes to support the company's strategic
goals and executive succession plans, according to Nicholas K. Akins, AEP chairman, president and
chief executive officer. The changes are effective Jan. 1, 2017.
Robert P. Powers, 62, currently
executive vice president and chief operating officer (COO), has
been named vice chairman, reporting to Akins. Paul Chodak III, 53, currently president and COO
of Indiana Michigan Power, has been named executive vice president
–Utilities and will report to Powers. Mark
C. McCullough, executive vice president – Generation,
Charles E. Zebula, executive vice
president – Energy Supply, Joel P.
Gebbie, senior vice president and chief nuclear officer, and
Stanley E. Partlow Jr., vice
president and chief security officer, will continue to report to
Powers.
"These changes will fully leverage the operational expertise,
strong leadership and deep industry knowledge of the AEP team as we
invest in our core regulated operations to fuel earnings growth and
enhance service for our customers," Akins said. "Bob will serve as
a senior advisor to me in his new role while continuing to oversee
many of our key areas of operations including our utility
subsidiaries, regulated generation, competitive businesses, and
physical and cyber security."
AEP's utility subsidiary presidents and COOs will report
directly to Chodak, with the exception of the president and COO of
AEP Texas who will continue to report to the president and COO of
Southwestern Electric Power Co.
"Paul has successfully led two AEP operating companies, and I'm
confident that he will continue the growth of our regulated utility
operations as we focus on investing in advanced technologies to
deliver more reliable, affordable and cleaner energy to our
customers," Akins said.
Charles R. Patton, 57, currently
president and COO of Appalachian Power, has been promoted to
executive vice president – External Affairs for AEP, reporting to
Akins. Patton will lead AEP's customer services, communications,
federal public policy and corporate sustainability initiatives.
Patton's direct reports will include Bruce
Evans, senior vice president and chief customer officer;
Dale E. Heydlauff, 59, who is being
promoted from vice president to senior vice president – Corporate
Communications; Anthony P. Kavanagh,
senior vice president – Governmental Affairs; and Sandra M. Nessing, managing director of
Corporate Sustainability.
"Charles has spent most of his career proactively engaging with
external stakeholders to help advance AEP's strategy and support
the communities where we operate. His collaborative leadership
style and expertise in building relationships will help us
successfully work with customers, government officials and other
key groups to improve the service and support we provide in our
communities," Akins said.
Lana L. Hillebrand, 56, has been
promoted to executive vice president and chief administrative
officer from senior vice president and chief administrative
officer, also reporting to Akins. She will continue to lead human
resources, information technology, labor relations and real estate
and workplace services.
In addition to Powers, Patton and Hillebrand, Akins' direct
reports include Lisa M. Barton,
executive vice president – Transmission; David M. Feinberg, executive vice president,
general counsel and secretary; Brian X.
Tierney, executive vice president and chief financial
officer; and Andrew B. Reis, vice
president – Audit Services.
Toby L. Thomas, 45, currently
vice president – Competitive Generation, has been named president
and COO for Indiana Michigan Power, to replace Chodak. Chris T. Beam, 47, currently vice president –
Projects, Controls and Construction for Generation, has been named
president and COO for Appalachian Power, to replace Patton.
Frank R. Pifer, 52, currently
managing director – Projects, will replace Beam as vice president –
Projects, Controls and Construction.
Gina E. Mazzei-Smith, 50,
currently senior counsel, has been named chief compliance officer,
reporting to Feinberg. Mazzei-Smith replaces Julie Rutter, who recently was named director –
Corporate and Field Human Resources.
Timothy K. Light, 59, has been
named to a short-term position as senior vice president – Business
Development in Generation, reporting to McCullough. Light plans to
retire from AEP in mid-2017. Jeffrey D.
LaFleur, 57, currently vice president – Generating Assets
for Appalachian Power, will succeed Light as senior vice president
– Commercial Operations, also reporting to McCullough. Debra L. Osborne, 52, currently plant manager,
Mountaineer Plant, has been named vice president – Generating
Assets for Appalachian Power, replacing LaFleur and reporting to
Daniel V. Lee, senior vice president
– Fossil and Hydro Generation.
Photos and biographical information about AEP executives are
available at www.aep.com.
American Electric Power is one of the largest electric utilities
in the United States, delivering
electricity and custom energy solutions to nearly 5.4 million
customers in 11 states. AEP owns the nation's largest electricity
transmission system, a more than 40,000-mile network that includes
more 765-kilovolt extra-high voltage transmission lines than all
other U.S. transmission systems combined. AEP also operates 224,000
miles of distribution lines. AEP ranks among the nation's largest
generators of electricity, owning approximately 31,000 megawatts of
generating capacity in the U.S. AEP also supplies 3,200 megawatts
of renewable energy to customers. AEP's utility units operate as
AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia and West
Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky
Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power
Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana and east Texas). AEP's headquarters are in Columbus, Ohio.
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SOURCE American Electric Power