Roger L. Petersen, president of PPL Corporation's (NYSE: PPL) development company, will retire June 30, after 11 years with the Allentown-based energy company.
Petersen has served as president of PPL Development Company, with responsibility for PPL's acquisition and divestiture activities, since 2004. He previously served as president of PPL Global, the company's international operation, and as president and chief executive officer of PPL Montana, which operates coal-fired and hydroelectric generating facilities at 13 sites in the state.
"Roger was instrumental in our successful efforts to increase the geographical diversity of PPL, which has allowed us to increase value for our shareowners. As a result of those efforts, we now serve more than 5 million customers around the world and have expanded our electricity generation capability in key U.S. markets," said James H. Miller, PPL's president and chief operating officer.
"We thank Roger for his significant contributions to PPL, and we wish him all the best in the future," said Miller.
Miller said that Petersen's responsibilities will be assumed by Paul T. Champagne, who is being named president of PPL Energy Services Group, with responsibility for the company's development functions and energy services activities.
Champagne most recently has served as president of PPL EnergyPlus, the PPL subsidiary that markets wholesale and retail electricity in key U.S. markets.
C. Joseph Hopf Jr., senior vice president-Energy Marketing, is being named president of PPL EnergyPlus, Miller said.
"The appointments of Paul Champagne and Joe Hopf to these positions will improve our focus on essential energy marketing activities and allow us to maximize the value of our energy-related service functions," said Miller.
The Champagne and Hopf appointments are effective July 1.
Petersen said he plans to return to Billings, Mont., where he has had a home since the late 1990s.
Petersen joined PPL in 1995 as an executive of PPL Global. As PPL Global's vice president and chief operating officer, he played a key role in PPL acquisitions in the United Kingdom, Chile and Montana.
In January 1999, Petersen was named head of PPL Montana and, in 2001, he was named president of PPL Global.
Petersen came to PPL from Edison Mission Energy, a subsidiary of Edison International, where he served as a regional vice president. Prior to joining Edison Mission Energy in 1986, Petersen served for 12 years as project manager of U.S. and international projects at Fluor Corp.
Champagne joined PPL in 1995 as vice president and senior development officer of PPL Global. He was appointed president of PPL Global in May 1999 and became president of PPL EnergyPlus in October 2001.