We talked with Bob Catell, former deputy chairman of National Grid plc.
Bob Catell was formerly the chairman and chief executive officer of KeySpan Corporation, the former Brooklyn Union Gas. His career with Brooklyn Union Gas started in 1958. He received his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in mechanical engineering from the City College of New York. Following National Grid's acquisition of KeySpan Corporation, Mr. Catell became chairman of National Grid U.S. and deputy chairman of National Grid plc.
Among his very many leadership roles, he served as chairman of the American Gas Association, and of the United States Energy Association. He's presently chairman of the Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center at Stony Brook University, and of the New York State Smart Grid Consortium.
PUF's Steve Mitnick: What was an important turning point in your career?
Bob Catell: A major turning point was the transaction on Long Island. Brooklyn Union Gas Company was trying to transform itself into more of a total energy company. We really had no room to grow in the gas business in the territory we served. So we looked to Long Island. We became involved in a very complicated political process to acquire the gas properties of Long Island Lighting Company and its electric generation.