MERRILLVILLE, Ind., March 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI) today announced that Pablo A. Vegas will join the company on May 3 as executive vice president and president, Columbia Gas Group for NiSource's Columbia Gas companies, which includes local gas distribution companies in Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
Carl W. Levander, executive vice president and chief regulatory officer, will assume the expanded role of executive vice president, regulatory policy and corporate affairs, responsible for policy, corporate communications, federal government affairs, regulatory strategy and human resources at NiSource, as Robert D. Campbell, executive vice president, corporate affairs and human resources, is retiring from NiSource. Levander's current responsibilities include leadership of the Columbia Gas companies, which Vegas will assume in addition to leadership of customer service for NiSource.
Vegas comes to NiSource after serving in a variety of senior executive positions in the regulated utility and consulting industry, including roles in strategic planning, information technology, and finance. Most recently he served as president and chief operating officer of American Electric Power (AEP) Ohio.
"Pablo brings a broad range of energy and utility experiences to NiSource and a track record of collaborative, high-performance leadership," said Joseph Hamrock, NiSource's president and CEO. "His commitment to delivering value for customers and stakeholders makes Pablo a great fit for NiSource as we continue to execute on our well-established utility investment programs and focus on leadership in safety and customer satisfaction to unlock the full potential of our plan."
Vegas will have profit-and-loss responsibility for the six Columbia Gas companies, including leadership of state regulatory, customer and stakeholder performance, as well as common customer service, billing and new business platforms for all seven NiSource companies. Vegas will report to Hamrock and serve as a member of NiSource's executive council.
"I'm excited to join NiSource and continue to advance the industry-leading business plan of modernization programs and regulatory strategies, with a commitment to deliver value to customers," Vegas said. "I'm impressed with NiSource's leadership team and their focused approach to delivering on NiSource's strategy and developing the next generation utility business model."
Vegas held senior leadership positions with IBM, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Andersen Consulting prior to joining AEP. In his last position with IBM, as associate partner - communications sector, Vegas had responsibility for delivering process and technology solutions within the energy sector.
Vegas joined AEP in 2005, serving in leadership positions in information technology and finance. In 2008 he assumed the role of president and chief operating officer for AEP Texas, overseeing distribution operations as well as safety, customer service, community affairs and regulatory functions. From 2010 – 2012, he served as AEP's vice president and chief information officer.
Vegas currently serves as chairman on the board of trustees for Columbus 2020, central Ohio's regional economic development organization, and also serves on the board of trustees for the Mount Carmel Health System and the Ohio Chamber of Commerce.
Vegas attended the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School and graduated cum laude from the University of Michigan with a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering.
About NiSource
NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI) is one of the largest fully-regulated utility companies in the United States, serving approximately 3.5 million natural gas customers and 500,000 electric customers across seven states through its local Columbia Gas and NIPSCO brands. Based in Merrillville, Indiana, NiSource's more than 7,500 employees are focused on safely delivering reliable and affordable energy to our customers and communities we serve. NiSource has been designated a World's Most Ethical Company by the Ethisphere Institute since 2012 and is a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability – North America Index. Additional information about NiSource, its investments in modern infrastructure and systems, its commitments and its local brands can be found at www.nisource.com. Follow us at www.facebook.com/nisource, www.linkedin.com/company/nisource or www.twitter.com/nisourceinc. NI-F
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SOURCE NiSource Inc.