New Opportunities: Luminant (the former TXU power generation unit) announced that Texas Secretary of State Phil Wilson joined the company as senior vice president of public affairs on July 7.
NiSource named Stephen P. Smith CFO effective early August. Smith joined NiSource June 1 as executive vice president, and will retain that position. He was a senior vice president with American Electric Power.
To replace Smith, AEP named Richard E. Munczinski senior vice president, shared services. Lonni L. Dieck succeeded Munczinski as senior v.p., corporate planning and budgeting, from v.p., RTO and public policy.
Also at AEP, Venita McCellon-Allen, president and COO of Southwestern Electric Power Co. (SWEPCO), was named executive vice president, AEP Utilities West, replacing Thomas M. Hagan who retired. Paul Chodak III replaced McCellon-Allen as president and CEO of SWEPCO, from director, new plant development. Charles R. Patton became senior v.p., regulatory and public policy for AEP, from president and chief operating officer of AEP Texas. Pablo A. Vegas replaces Patton as president and CEO of AEP Texas. He was director, strategic planning for AEP.