American Electric Power (AEP) late last week announced several leadership and organizational changes. Included among those changes – Kelly Ferneau is named executive vice president and chief nuclear officer. In Ferneau’s new role, she succeeds Shane Lies who is transitioning to a new role in Projects and Services. The changes are effective immediately.
AEP also announced an internal/external search for a president to lead the AEP Transmission business, the elimination of the regulatory and chief administrative officer role, and the retirement of the executive vice president of their Energy Services team.
“This new leadership and organizational structure is part of our effort to streamline the company, shift decision making and accountability closer to customers, and align our support organizations to ensure our businesses have the appropriate resources to enhance value for all of our stakeholders,” said Bill Fehrman, AEP president and chief executive officer.
“These changes will allow us to be more responsive to the needs of our states and support growth in our local economies.” – Fehrman
As part of the leadership and organizational changes, AEP announced:
- The company is launching a search for a president to lead the AEP Transmission business, which is a source of growth as AEP makes necessary investments to enhance reliability and meet customers’ needs. The search will consider both internal and external candidates.
- It is eliminating the executive vice president of Regulatory and chief administrative officer role. As a result, Peggy Simmons is leaving the company.
- Chris Beam, executive vice president of Energy Services, plans to retire in February 2025 and will serve as executive vice president and senior advisor until that time.
- Shane Lies, executive vice president and chief nuclear officer, will move to a new role as executive vice president of Projects and Services. He will oversee generation shared services, environmental services, project solutions, distribution planning and performance, and strategic supplier management.
- Kelly Ferneau, site vice president at AEP’s Donald C. Cook Nuclear Plant, succeeds Lies and has been promoted to executive vice president and chief nuclear officer, reporting to Fehrman.
- Scott Dailey, AEP’s managing director of renewable generation and former plant manager at Cook Nuclear Plant, will succeed Ferneau as site vice president.
- AEP’s other power plant managers will now report to the operating company presidents. In addition, the economic development function will be transitioning to the operating companies.
- Corporate regulatory services and procurement will be aligned under the chief financial officer.
The changes are somewhat surprising as it was just announced in late August that Simmons was appointed to the newly created executive role. Similarly, Lies was appointed to the role of chief nuclear officer in that same announcement. Company president and CEO Fehrman was appointed to his role with an announcement last June and the role becoming effective August 1.
Fehrman said, “On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Chris and Peggy for their years of contributions and dedicated leadership. We wish them the best in the future. As we move forward, strong execution begins with aligning the right individuals to the right roles, and we are fortunate to have a strong team across our organization that is laser-focused on delivering for all of our stakeholders.”
