Vectren Announces Key Leadership Changes; New VUHI President and CFO Named - Seite 2

"We believe today's announcements reflect a well-developed, thoughtful succession planning process that has been planned for quite some time whereby we continue to properly position our next generation of senior leadership," said Chapman. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Bill and his well-being during this time, and we very much appreciate his invaluable service and guidance to our company that has clearly helped drive Vectren's success. Rick is certainly ready to move into this new role and ensure our utilities continue on their path of delivering an exceptional customer experience while maintaining consistent earnings growth. Susan is equally prepared to fill the chief financial officer role and with more than 20 years of utility and corporate accounting and financial experience is the ideal candidate for this key leadership position. I am very appreciative of Jerry's service in the CFO role, which he has held for more than 14 years since Vectren's formation. While I understand his personal desire to free up time for other pursuits, I appreciate his willingness to discuss his retirement intentions more than a year in advance thereby providing us ample time and his continued on-site expertise to ensure a smooth transition for the company."

Both Schach and Hardwick will report directly to Chapman. They join Benkert, Ronald (Ron) Christian, Vectren's executive vice president, chief legal and external affairs officer and corporate secretary, Elizabeth (Liz) Witte, vice president of planning and corporate development, and the three presidents of Vectren's nonutility businesses as Chapman's direct reports. 

In other management changes announced today, Robert (Robbie) Sears, the current director of conservation, who has more than 25 years in the utility industry, will be promoted to vice president of marketing and conservation, where he will retain responsibilities for the company's conservation programs and natural gas vehicle accounts and add the sales, revenue management, economic development and energy technologies departments to his team, where previously they had reported directly to Schach. Sears will continue to report to Schach in his new role.

In addition, last month, Jason Stephenson joined Vectren as vice president and general counsel for VUHI where he will oversee regulatory filings for the utility group. A long-time partner at Barnes & Thornburg, LLP, in Indianapolis, Stephenson has a wealth of experience in the utility industry and has advised on and litigated many regulatory issues before the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. Stephenson reports to Robert (Bob) Heidorn, Vectren's senior vice president, general counsel and chief compliance officer and assistant secretary.