COLUMBUS, Ohio, Dec. 5, 2018 – American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) today announced leadership changes to expand the experiences of key operational executives. The changes are effective Jan. 1, 2019.
Lisa M. Barton, currently executive vice president – AEP Transmission, has been named executive vice president – Utilities. Paul Chodak III, currently executive vice president – Utilities, has been named executive vice president – Generation. Mark C. McCullough, currently executive vice president – Generation, has been named executive vice president – AEP Transmission.
“This rotation of executive leadership roles is a continuation of AEP’s professional development program,” said Nicholas K. Akins, AEP chairman, president and chief executive officer. “With these changes, we will fully leverage the operational expertise, strong leadership abilities and deep industry knowledge of these key leaders as we continue our long-term strategy of investment in smart, cleaner energy infrastructure and innovative technological solutions for the benefit of our customers.”
Barton, 53, has served in her current role since 2011 and previously held several leadership positions in AEP Transmission. She joined AEP in 2006 from Northeast Utilities. Barton earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Massachusetts, and a juris doctorate degree from Suffolk University Law School in Boston. She completed the Harvard Mediation Program for the Instruction of Lawyers, the Executive Program-Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia and the Nuclear Reactor Technology Program at MIT. A former International Women's Foundation Fellow and member of G100 Next Generation Leadership, Barton is a current member of C200. She serves as chair of the boards of directors for ReliabilityFirst and the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, and is a board member of the Wexner Center for the Arts.
Chodak, 55, has served in his current role since 2016 and previously was president and chief operating officer of AEP subsidiaries Indiana Michigan Power and Southwestern Electric Power Co. Chodak joined AEP in 2001 from Los Alamos National Laboratory. He earned a doctorate degree in nuclear engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a master’s degree in civil engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering with honors from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Chodak completed MIT's Reactor Technology Course for Utility Executives and the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program. He is a member of the board of trustees of Capital University and the board of directors of the Columbus Regional Airport Authority.
McCullough, 59, has led AEP’s Generation organization since 2011. He began his career at AEP in 1981 and has served in a variety of leadership positions in Generation. McCullough has a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering from Rose Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Indiana, and completed the MIT Reactor Technology Course for Utility Executives. He serves as a member of the boards of directors of the Electric Power Research Institute, the Association of Edison Illuminating Companies, HomePort, the Columbus Housing Partnership and the Ohio Valley Electric Corporation. McCullough also serves on the board of Grace Fellowship Church.
American Electric Power, based in Columbus, Ohio, is focused on building a smarter energy infrastructure and delivering new technologies and custom energy solutions to our customers. AEP’s more than 18,000 employees operate and maintain the nation’s largest electricity transmission system and more than 219,000 miles of distribution lines to efficiently deliver safe, reliable power to nearly 5.4 million regulated customers in 11 states. AEP also is one of the nation’s largest electricity producers with approximately 32,000 megawatts of diverse generating capacity, including 4,340 megawatts of renewable energy. 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 and east Texas). AEP also owns AEP Energy, AEP Energy Partners, AEP OnSite Partners, and AEP Renewables, which provide innovative competitive energy solutions nationwide.