COLUMBUS, Ohio, Nov. 30, 2001 - American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) has named Geoffrey S. Chatas to vice president - investor relations and corporate finance, effective Jan. 1, 2002.

Chatas, 38, will be responsible for shareholder and industry analyst relations, and all corporate and project finance functions. Chatas has served as AEP´s vice president - finance and assistant treasurer since 2000, with responsibility for the planning and execution of AEP´s financing plan and overseeing bank relationships.

Chatas will report to Armando Peña, AEP senior vice president - finance and treasurer.

Geoff´s strong background in finance and banking, combined with his excellent performance record in previous positions at AEP, makes him well-suited to assume responsibility for both investor relations and corporate finance," Peña said. "It is vital for AEP´s continued success that we have clear, concise communications with investors, industry analysts and other key financial audiences."

AEP´s investor relations team - Bette Jo Rozsa, managing director, and Julie Sloat, manager - will report to Chatas.

Chatas joined AEP in 1997 as managing director, project finance. He was named managing director, corporate finance in 1999 and vice president - finance in 2000. Prior to joining AEP, Chatas worked at Bank One Capital, where he was vice president of the Housing and Health Care Finance Group. He held several positions with Citibank in London and New York, including the Power Finance Group and the Global Aviation Finance group.

Chatas received a master´s degree in business administration in 1990 from INSEAD, an international business school in France; a master´s in history in 1988 from Oxford University in the United Kingdom and a bachelor´s degree in 1985 from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

American Electric Power is a multinational energy company based in Columbus, Ohio. AEP owns and operates more than 38,000 megawatts of generating capacity, making it America´s largest generator of electricity. The company is also a leading wholesale energy marketer and trader, ranking second in North America in wholesale electricity and wholesale natural gas volume. AEP provides retail electricity to more than 7 million customers worldwide and has holdings in the U.S. and select international markets. Wholly owned subsidiaries are involved in power engineering and construction services, energy management and telecommunications.