Robert J. Grey, vice president, general counsel and secretary for Pennsylvania Power & Light Co. today (1/24) was named senior vice president, general counsel and secretary, effective March 1.

In making the announcement, William F. Hecht, chairman, president & chief executive officer, said Grey would assume responsibility for PP&L's principal external affairs activities.

"Putting a senior PP&L officer in a leadership role for key external affairs activities makes good strategic sense," said Hecht. "A critical measure of success in our changing industry will be our ability to speak effectively to all of our stakeholder audiences. This places accountability for coordination of our governmental, regulatory and public communications under one senior officer. This is an important strategic approach to relationship building with our various audiences."

Grey joined PP&L in February 1995 as vice president, general counsel and secretary after serving for two and a half years as general counsel for Long Island Lighting Co. Prior to that, he had been a partner with the law firm of Preston Gates & Ellis of Seattle, Wash. His experience also includes several years as a staff counsel for the New York Public Service Commission, and he served as an attorney for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

He received his B.A. degree from Columbia University, his doctor of law degree from Emory University and a master of laws degree in taxation from George Washington University.

Grey and his wife, Susan, live in Allentown. They are the parents of two daughters, Lisa and Laura.