PP&L Resources, Inc. (NYSE: PPL) announced Wednesday (10/28) that John R. Biggar has been appointed senior vice president and chief financial officer of the company.

As a result of the appointment, which is effective Nov. 1, Biggar also will serve as senior vice president and chief financial officer for PP&L, Inc., PP&L Resources' largest subsidiary. Biggar has been serving as senior vice president-Financial on an interim basis since February of this year.

William F. Hecht, PP&L Resources chairman, president and chief executive officer, said Biggar was selected for the position after an extensive search that included both internal and external candidates.

"We are very pleased to announce that we have selected John to serve in this position on a permanent basis," said Hecht. "John has been an outstanding contributor in a number of positions in the company over the past three decades and did an especially fine job this year as we worked our way through some important financial milestones."

Biggar led the development of the company's financial strategy following settlement of PP&L, Inc.'s competition restructuring case, including the successful completion of a tender offer that resulted in the buyback of 17 million shares of PP&L Resources' common stock, Hecht said.

"The PP&L Resources executive team looks forward to working with John as the company capitalizes on the many growth opportunities that are presented to us by the rapidly evolving energy business," said Hecht. Biggar will serve as a member of PP&L Resources' Corporate Leadership Council.

A native of Oneida, N.Y., Biggar began his PP&L career as an attorney and worked in the company's Legal Department for six years before being promoted to manager-Financial Services in 1975. Biggar also served as manager-Finance and assistant treasurer before being named vice president-Finance in 1984, a position he held until being named to the interim post earlier this year, when Ronald E. Hill retired as senior vice president-Financial.

Biggar earned a law degree from the College of Law at Syracuse University and a bachelor's degree in political science from Lycoming College.