NiSource appoints key leaders for new organization

NiSource recently announced the appointment of additional key leadership for the operation of its energy distribution, natural gas pipeline, energy production and wholesale trading businesses upon completion of its merger with Columbia Energy Group.

The company started naming its top leadership team Aug. 1, headed by Gary L. Neale, NiSource chairman, president and CEO. The US$6 billion NiSource/Columbia merger agreement announced Feb. 28 creates an energy company with assets of US$13 billion. Assuming final approval by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the companies expect the merger to close by the end of this year.

Business unit executives named earlier this month
Arthur E. Smith, Jr., NiSource environmental officer and counsel, plans to serve as vice president and environmental counsel. Maria P. Hibbs, NiSource director of corporate communications, becomes vice president of corporate communications. Peter Fazio remains general counsel. Ramon Arredondo, NiSource director of legislative affairs, will become assistant to the chairman. The company plans to name a human resources officer later. All will report directly to Neale.

"We have a great depth of talent in place between NiSource and Columbia, and we are assembling a leadership team focused on delivering exceptional value to our customers by creating the premier competitor in an evolving energy marketplace," Neale said.

Business unit appointments announced Tuesday
Energy distribution
Jeffrey W. Yundt, who will be president of energy distribution, overseeing all gas and electric distribution systems of the combined company, announced the following senior staff:

• Robert Skaggs plans to continue as president and CEO of Columbia Gas of Ohio and Columbia Gas of Kentucky (CKY), and assumes an expanded role as president and CEO of NiSource's Bay State Gas subsidiary.
• Joseph Kelly has been named executive vice president and chief operating officer (COO) for CKY.
• Kenneth Margossian, senior vice president of operations for Bay State Gas, has been named Bay State's executive vice president and COO. Kelly and Margossian will report to Skaggs.
• Anthony Trubisz plans to serve as president and CEO of Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania and Maryland and Columbia Gas of Virginia. The position of executive vice president and COO of Columbia of Virginia will be filled at a later date. A president and CEO for NiSource's Indiana distribution companies—Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO), Kokomo Gas and Fuel and Northern Indiana Fuel and Light (NIFL)—also will be named later.
• Mark T. Maassel plans to serve as vice president of regulatory and governmental affairs.
• Dorothy M. Hawkins will be vice president of information technology.
• Peggy Landini will serve as vice president of customer service/marketing.
• Barbara McKay plans to serve as vice president of communications.
• Scott MacDonald becomes vice president of finance and strategy.

Pipeline operations
Catherine G. Abbott becomes president of pipeline operations, which includes Columbia Gas Transmission and Columbia Gulf Transmission, NiSource's Crossroads Pipeline and its investment in Portland Natural Gas Transmission System, and Columbia's fiber optic telecommunications network, announced the following senior staff:

• Terrance L. McGill plans to serve as president of Columbia Gulf.
• Glen L. Kettering becomes president of Columbia Gas Transmission (TCO).
• W. Harris Marple becomes senior vice president of operations for TCO and Gulf.
• Stephen M. Warnick plans to serve as senior vice president of finance and information services for TCO and Gulf.
• Kathleen O'Leary becomes senior vice president of human resources and public affairs for TCO and Gulf.

Merchant company
Patrick J. Mulchay plans to serve as president of the merchant company, which includes electric generation and transmission, wholesale natural gas and electric trading, gas supply and storage, and gas exploration and production. He named the following senior staff:

• James K. Abcouwer becomes senior vice president of merchant energy services, and president of TPC Corporation.
• Thomas J. Aruffo becomes vice president of energy supply services.
• David J. Vajda becomes vice president of finance and administration.
• Jerry L. Godwin becomes vice president of electric power supply.
• W. Henry Harmon, plans to serve as president of Columbia Natural Resources. Harmon will report to Abcouwer.

Primary energy
Joseph L. Turner, who will remain president of Primary Energy, a developer of on-site industrial power generation, made the following senior staff announcements:

• Dean H. Hall becomes vice president of development.
• Kenneth Foley becomes vice president of production and maintenance.
• V. Michael Alverson plans to serve as vice president. A vice president of marketing and sales will be announced at a later date.

New Energy Company
Mark D. Wyckoff, who will be president of New Energy Company, the combined company's distributed generation and e-commerce initiatives, announced the following senior staff:

• Robert A. Kramer becomes vice president and chief scientist.
• Peter Disser becomes vice president.
• Michael L. Zdyb also plans to serve as a vice president. A vice president of finance and administration and an additional vice president and director will be named later.

Business services
Stephen P. Smith, who will become president of business services, consisting of the combined company's administrative and shared services functions, announced the following senior staff:

• John O'Brien becomes vice president of tax services.
• Mary Bloom becomes vice president of supply chain services.
• Robert Stuart plans to serve as chief information officer.
• Gail Harowski becomes vice president of employee and administration services.
• Will Castle becomes director of commercial support services.
• Gary Barnard plans to serve as chief accounting officer.

New NiSource appointments
Corporate Finance Michael W. O'Donnell, who will become executive vice president and chief financial officer of the new NiSource, announced the following senior staff:

• Jeffrey W. Grossman plans to serve as vice president and controller.
• Dennis McFarland becomes vice president of finance and planning.
• Francis P. Girot, Jr. becomes treasurer.
• Dennis E. Senchak plans to serve as vice president of investor and shareholder relations.
• Arthur Paquin becomes vice president of audit. A corporate tax officer will be named later.

The new NiSource will serve more than 3.6 million gas and electric customers primarily located in nine states. Its operations will span the high-growth energy corridor extending from the Gulf of Mexico through Chicago to New England, creating the largest natural gas distributor east of the Rockies, with wholesale and retail electric operations.

Edited by April C. Murelio
Managing Editor, Power Online