Sempra makes leadership changes

Sempra Energy has announced a number of executive appointments. All of the appointments are effective 1 January 2017, except where noted otherwise.

Debra L. Reed, the Chairman and CEO of Sempra Energy, said: “One of the cornerstones of our success has been our ability to organically develop a strong leadership team.

"We and our board of directors spend considerable time and effort identifying talented leaders within the organisation and exposing them to different aspects of our business. Today's appointments represent another step forward in our succession planning process."

Mark A. Snell, who has served as the President of the company since 2011, has stated that he is planning to retire on 1 March 2017. From 2006 to 2011, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the company. Prior to this, from 2004 to 2005, he served as Group President, overseeing the company’s businesses outside of the California utilities. While serving in this capacity, he oversaw all aspects of the company’s activities in competitive energy markets, including energy trading, electric generation, LNG, pipelines and storage facilities, international utilities and retail energy marketing. Before that, he was the group’s Chief Financial Officer.

Snell originally joined the company in 2001 as the Vice President of Corporate Planning and Development. Prior to this, he held Chief Financial Officer positions at a number of companies, including Earth Tech Inc., Dames & Moore Inc. and Latham & Watkins LLP.

Joseph A. Householder, who is currently serving as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the company, will be named Corporate Group President of Infrastructure Businesses, reporting to Reed. In this role, he will oversee Sempra Energy’s operations in midstream LNG, renewable energy and Mexico.

Steven D. Davis, who currently serves as the Executive Vice President of External Affairs and Corporate Strategy, will be named as Corporate Group President of Utilities, also reporting to Reed. In addition to this, he will chair the Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) boards of directors. In his new role, Davis will oversee operations at the company’s utilities in California and South America.

In addition to this, Jeffrey W. Martin, who currently serves as Chairman, President and CEO of SDG&E, will become Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Sempra Energy. He too will report to Reed, and will oversee all of the company’s financial matters, including business development and major acquisitions.

Dennis V. Arriola, meanwhile, who currently serves as Chairman, President and CEO of SolCalGas, will become the company’s Executive Vice President of Corporate Strategy and External Affairs. He too will report to Reed.

The current President and CEO of Sempra U.S. Gas & Power, Patricia K. Wagner, will become the CEO of SoCalGas, reporting to Davis. Before assuming her new role in January 2017, Wagner will serve as an Executive Vice President for Sempra Energy (effective immediately).

In addition, J. Bret Lane has been appointed President of SoCalGas, and will continue serving as the company’s Chief Operating Officer.

Scott D. Drury, meanwhile – the current Chief Energy Supply Officer for SDG&E – will become the President of SGD&E, reporting to Davis.

Finally, Caroline A. Winn, the Chief Energy Delivery Officer for SDG&E, will become SDG&E’s Chief Operating Officer. She will report to Drury.

Edited from press release by David Rowlands

Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/liquid-natural-gas/14092016/sempra-makes-leadership-changes-3046/