AEP Texas is pleased to announce two changes to its Senior Leadership Team at its company headquarters in Corpus Christi. David Hooper, former AEP Texas director of Customer Services,has been named vice president of Distribution. Joel S.Murphy has been named director of Customer Services.

Hooper joined the company in 1980 as a marketing consultant for Central Power and Light Company (CPL) and went on to serve as South Texas Project Information Coordinator in 1983 before being named director of Corporate Communications in 1988. He was Corpus Christi area manager in 1990 and was promoted to director of marketing and business development in 1991. In 1994, he was named CPL’s vice president of marketing and business development, until he was named Central Division manager in June 1996. Hooper was named Customer Services manager for AEP Texas in 2000 and was named director of Customer Services in 2004.

Murphy has over 23 years experience in the electric utility industry in various roles of leadership. Since joining AEP in the fall of 2006, he has served as the director of Projects Scheduling in the Generation, Engineering Project and Field Services organization. Prior to joining AEP, Joel served with Exelon Corporation in various leadership roles.

"David Hooper’s experience and success in leading the Customer Services area as well as leading other organizations within AEP and CSW companies over the last 29 years position him very well to take the helm of the AEP Texas Distribution organization,” Pablo Vegas, president and chief operating officer, AEP Texas, said. “He has a strong understanding of the electric utility industry, especially the challenges we face here in Texas.”

“We’re also excited to have a person with Joel Murphy’s experience and talent join the Leadership Team at AEP Texas,” said Vegas. “His commitment to safety, customer satisfaction, strategy development and employee relations make him an ideal fit for our Customer Services organization and the evolving AEP Texas culture.”