HOUSTON, Dec. 3, 2018
CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CNP) today announced the executive team that will lead the combined company following the close of the pending merger with Vectren Corporation (NYSE: VVC), which is expected in the first quarter of 2019.
As previously announced, at the closing of the merger CenterPoint EnergyPresident and Chief Executive Officer Scott M. Prochazka will be appointed to the same role for the combined company. The combined company will be named CenterPoint Energy, headquartered in Houston and execute a unified business strategy focused on the safe and reliable delivery of electricity, natural gas, and related services to customers.
“This talented and experienced group of leaders is uniquely qualified to drive value for our shareholders, customers, employees, and communities while enhancing growth opportunities for our businesses,” said CenterPoint EnergyPresident and Chief Executive Officer Scott M. Prochazka. “I look forward to working alongside this team to further advance our vision to lead the nation in delivering energy, service, and value.”
The following leaders will be members of the company’s executive leadership team, reporting to Prochazka as of the close of the transaction. Unless otherwise noted, the leaders will be based in Houston.
Tracy Bridge, currently CenterPoint Energy’s executive vice president and president, Electric Division, will lead the company’s Texas electric utility business. He will be responsible for electric transmission, distribution, electric engineering, and power delivery solutions in the greater Houston area. Bridge will also oversee the company’s technology operations and enterprise-wide safety and training programs.
Lynnae K. Wilson, currently Vectren’s vice president, Energy Delivery, will lead the company’s Indiana electric utility business. She will be responsible for power generation operations and construction, transmission and distribution operations, electric engineering, Midwest Independent System Operator (MISO) and wholesale power marketing, key account management, and integrated resource planning. Wilson will be based in Evansville, Ind.
Scott E. Doyle, currently CenterPoint Energy’s senior vice president, Natural Gas Distribution, will lead the company’s natural gas utility business. He will be responsible for the company’s eight-state natural gas operations utility footprint, natural gas supply, natural gas engineering, and operations support. In addition, Doyle will oversee the enterprise customer organization, including utility sales and marketing. He will be based in Evansville, Ind.
Joseph (Joe) J. Vortherms, currently senior vice president of CenterPoint Energy Services, will lead the company’s competitive businesses, including natural gas supply and sales, commercial development and marketing, and Vectren’s Miller Pipeline, Minnesota Limited and Energy Systems Group.
Dana O’Brien, currently CenterPoint Energy’s senior vice president and general counsel, will lead the company’s legal organization. She will be responsible for regulatory and government affairs, corporate and securities, litigation, audit, corporate responsibility, the corporate secretary role, and ethics, compliance, and privacy. O’Brien will also have oversight of environmental and claims.
Sue Ortenstone, currently CenterPoint Energy’s senior vice president and chief human resources officer, will lead the company’s human resources organization. She will have responsibility for talent, compensation and benefits, labor relations, and enterprise communications and community relations. Ortenstone will also have oversight of facilities and security, as well as the charitable foundation.
Kenneth (Kenny) Mercado, currently CenterPoint Energy’s integration officer, will serve as the company’s integration lead. He will lead the company’s integration implementation, including process improvement, change leadership, the technology integration management office, and strategic sourcing and purchasing.
The company also announced that William (Bill) D. Rogers, currently CenterPoint Energy’s executive vice president and chief financial officer, plans to retire for personal and family reasons. He will remain in his current role through the first quarter of 2019 to help ensure a seamless closing of the pending merger and transition to his successor.
“I want to thank Bill for his invaluable contributions and commitment to CenterPoint Energy,” said Prochazka. “He has been a valued member of the executive leadership team and played an instrumental role in driving our strategy to advance functional excellence within the finance organization and grow our businesses as we strive to better serve our customers’ needs. Bill also played a key role in our pending merger with Vectren. Thanks to Bill’s leadership and dedication, CenterPoint Energy is well positioned for the future.”
In preparation for the completion of the merger, CenterPoint Energy and Vectren continue to work on integration planning. Until the close of the transaction, CenterPoint Energy and Vectren will operate as two separate companies under their current leadership structures.
CenterPoint Energy, Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a domestic energy delivery company that includes electric transmission & distribution, natural gas distribution and energy services operations. The company serves more than five million metered customers primarily in Arkansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas. The company also owns 54.0 percent of the common units representing limited partner interests in Enable Midstream Partners, a publicly traded master limited partnership it jointly controls with OGE Energy Corp.Enable Midstream Partners owns, operates and develops natural gas and crude oil infrastructure assets. With more than 8,000 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 150 years. For more information, please visit www.CenterPointEnergy.com.
