COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 1, 2022
/PRNewswire/ -- American Electric Power (Nasdaq: AEP) today
announced that Raja Sundararajan,
currently senior vice president - Regulatory and Customer
Solutions, will become the company's executive vice president –
External Affairs when Charles Patton
retires July 1. He will report to
Nicholas K. Akins, AEP chairman,
president and chief executive officer.
"Charles' leadership and contributions have been a critical part
of AEP's success during his 27 years with the company. He led two
different AEP operating companies and held several other key
leadership positions, approaching every challenge with
thoughtfulness and a collaborate leadership style," Akins said.
"Charles has deftly guided his teams as they have offered new
services to customers, achieved positive outcomes with regulators
and policy makers, and enhanced the support we offer our customers
and communities. We wish him all the best during his well-deserved
retirement."
Sundararajan, 47, will lead AEP's communications and marketing,
customer, regulatory, federal public policy, and Ohio government affairs groups. Sundararajan's
direct reports will include Melissa
McHenry, senior vice president – Communications &
Marketing; Phil Dion, vice president
and interim Chief Customer Officer; Anthony
Kavanagh, senior vice president – Governmental Affairs;
Maria Haberman, managing director –
Ohio Governmental Affairs; and Matthew
Satterwhite, vice president – Regulatory Services.
"Raja brings a wealth of experience to the executive leadership
team," Akins said. "He has demonstrated a keen understanding of the
unique regulatory and policy challenges of our industry during his
nearly two decades with AEP, holding key leadership roles in
commercial operations, corporate finance, regulatory and
transmission. He also served as president of AEP Ohio. Raja's array
of experiences and his technical expertise will provide valuable
insights as AEP continues its transition to a clean energy
future."
Sundararajan joined AEP in 2002. His most recent prior role was
as president and chief operating officer for AEP Ohio. He has also
served as vice president, Regulatory Services, leading AEP's
regulatory activities before 11 state commissions and the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). He was also vice president,
Transmission Asset Strategy and Policy; managing director,
Transmission Business Strategy; managing director of Market Risk;
and has held management positions in Treasury and Corporate Finance
at the company.
Sundararajan has a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering
from the Indian Institute of
Technology, Madras, India.
He also has a master's degree in mechanical engineering from the
University of Maryland, a master's
degree in business administration (MBA) from the University of Michigan and he completed the
Executive MBA program at the University of
Virginia. Sundararajan serves as a board member of the
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and United Way of Central Ohio.
American Electric Power, based in Columbus, Ohio, is powering a cleaner,
brighter energy future for its customers and communities. AEP's
approximately 16,700 employees operate and maintain the nation's
largest electricity transmission system and more than 224,000 miles
of distribution lines to safely deliver reliable and affordable
power to 5.5 million regulated customers in 11 states. AEP also is
one of the nation's largest electricity producers with
approximately 31,000 megawatts of diverse generating capacity,
including more than 7,100 megawatts of renewable energy. The
company's plans include growing its renewable generation portfolio
to approximately 50% of total capacity by 2030. AEP is on track to
reach an 80% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from 2000 levels
by 2030 and has committed to achieving net zero by 2050. AEP is
recognized consistently for its focus on sustainability, community
engagement, and diversity, equity and inclusion. AEP's family of
companies includes utilities 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, east Texas and the Texas
Panhandle). AEP also owns AEP Energy, which provides
innovative competitive energy solutions nationwide. For more
information, visit aep.com.
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SOURCE American Electric Power