CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Appalachian Power has named Jason Baker vice president distribution operations, effective Nov. 26. Baker is currently director of distribution region operations for Indiana Michigan Power (I&M). American Electric Power (Nasdaq: AEP) is the parent company of both utilities. 

Baker will be responsible for construction, engineering, maintenance and operations of the company's electric distribution system, which serves 1 million customers in Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee. He will work be headquartered in Charleston, W.Va., and oversee the activities of approximately 850 employees.

“Jason is an inspiring leader who brings significant knowledge, experience and a proven track record in electric reliability improvements and organizational safety,” said Aaron Walker, Appalachian Power president and chief operating officer. “He genuinely cares about his coworkers and others and will be a natural fit with the Appalachian Power family.”

Baker began his career with AEP in 2007 as a construction coordinator at the John Amos Landfill in West Virginia. As he became more involved in the company’s generation and distribution operations, he moved into various leadership roles and gained extensive experience in project and construction management, and contract negotiations. As director of distribution region operations, Baker had the primary responsibility for I&M’s budget, storm response, and line, network and meter employees.

“It’s an honor and privilege to work in the distribution organization,” said Baker, who grew up on a farm in Ohio. “In the distribution organization I found my passion and purpose. There’s a brother-and- sisterhood in this group that I respect and click with, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

Baker received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Purdue Global University.  He holds a Project Management Profession certification from the Project Management Institute.

He and his wife, Tonya, have three children.

Appalachian Power has 1 million customers in Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee (as AEP Appalachian Power). It is part of American Electric Power, which is focused on building a smarter energy infrastructure and delivering new technologies and custom energy solutions. 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 efficiently deliver safe, reliable power to nearly 5.5 million customers in 11 states. AEP is also one of the nation’s largest electricity producers with approximately 31,000 megawatts of diverse generating capacity, including 7,100 megawatts of renewable energy.