Xcel Energy names Fowke chairman, president and CEO

Ben Fowke is chairman, president and chief executive officer of Xcel Energy Inc., succeeding Richard C. Kelly.

Fowke has held various positions with Xcel Energy, including president and chief operating officer; executive vice president and chief financial officer; and vice president, CFO and treasurer. Before the 2000 merger of the Northern States Power Co. and New Century Energies to form Xcel Energy, Fowke was a vice president in the New Century retail business unit.

Kelly retired in August after 43 years with Xcel Energy and predecessor companies.

Xcel Energy operates 26 hydro plants in Colorado, Minnesota and Wisconsin with a total capacity exceeding 500 MW.

Brennan retiring from Manitoba Hydro

Bob Brennan, president and chief executive officer of Manitoba Hydro, has announced his retirement after 47 years with the Crown corporation.

Brennan has worked his entire professional career at Manitoba Hydro, the company reports. His tenure as president and CEO began in 1990.

The Board of Directors will conduct an international search with an executive search firm in identifying candidates for the position, a press release states.

Brennan told the Free Press he will leave after a successor is chosen, likely by the end of December.

Daniel Mahoney

Mahoney retires from FERC

Director Daniel Mahoney has retired from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Division of Dam Safety and Inspections, effective Oct. 1.

Mahoney led FERC’s dam safety division since 2007. Before becoming director, he served as deputy director of the division for 11 years. Mahoney began his federal government career with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

FERC named Deputy Director William Allerton acting director of the division until a successor is chosen. Allerton is a civil engineer with 30 years’ experience in dam safety engineering. Before being appointed deputy director, he was supervisor of dam safety engineering in FERC’s headquarters office.