In the newly created position at AEP, Welch will be charged with unifying AEP’s environmental and safety activities into a new organization. He will report directly to Michael G. Morris, AEP chairman, president and chief executive officer.
Welch, 53, was previously president and chief operating officer of Yankee Energy System, an operating subsidiary of Northeast Utilities (NU). He was named president and COO of Yankee Energy in 2001. A 20-year veteran of NU, Welch served as vice president of Environmental, Safety & Ethics at NU for four years immediately prior to his position at Yankee Energy. He also held positions as director of Environmental Health and Safety and manager of Occupational Safety at NU. Prior to joining NU, Welch had various positions at Stone & Webster Engineering.
“Having worked with Dennis for a number of years, I am very excited to add him to the AEP leadership team. He is an individual of high integrity with a unique ability to establish trust relationships with regulators. During his years of environmental and safety responsibility at NU, he accomplished a great deal and built relationships with the environmental community that last to this day. I look forward to Dennis adding value to our already strong environmental reputation,” said Morris.
Welch earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental, health and safety management from Indiana State University at Terre Haute and a master’s degree in business and human resource management from the Hartford Graduate Center of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He also completed the Environmental Leadership Program at Yale University’s School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.
American Electric Power owns more than 36,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the United States and is the nation´s largest electricity generator. AEP is also one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, with more than 5 million customers linked to AEP’s 11-state electricity transmission and distribution grid. The company is based in Columbus, Ohio.
Melissa McHenry
Manager, Corporate Media Relations
614/716-1120
Manager, Corporate Media Relations
614/716-1120