Top 10 Utilities CIOs - 2024

Whitney Stengel Kellett is chief information officer for Essential (NYSE: WTRG), one of the largest publicly traded water, wastewater and natural gas providers in the U.S., serving approximately 5 million people across 10 states. Kellett is responsible for all Information Technology (IT) staff, services, applications and systems across Essential and its water, wastewater and natural gas subsidiaries. In her role, Kellett has led comprehensive upgrades of all infrastructure technology including servers, data storage, networks, end-user computers and data centers. In addition, she implemented security platforms to support comprehensive risk management and cybersecurity programs and spearheaded the IT workstream in developing strategies to leverage systems that will ensure collaboration, productivity and efficiency across the enterprise post-merge. Overseeing an annual IT budget in excess of $100M and a staff of 150 employees and contractors, Kellett has led numerous technology initiatives including the implementation of Workday, the development of an enterprise shared technology services model across all subsidiaries and is currently executing a 4-year business transformation program to implement SAP S/4 HANA (ERP, CR&B, BW) for all water/wastewater subsidiaries.

Bonnie Titone serves as Duke Energy’s senior vice president and chief information officer. She leads the company’s information technology operations and infrastructure, cyber and physical security functions, product delivery and support for various business areas, and the expanding digital transformation and data optimization strategy. Her team enables the company’s broader efforts to transform and deliver a smarter, cleaner energy future and coordinates with peer utilities to ensure that our country’s critical infrastructure, information and energy grid remain well protected. Titone joined Duke Energy in June 2019 from Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) in San Francisco, Calif., where she served as vice president of information business technology. In this role, she led technology delivery for all core business functions, including natural gas, electric, nuclear, energy supply, human resources, finance, supply chain, safety and environmental, security, risk management, legal and fleet operations. Titone was responsible for digital transformation, application and software delivery and operations.

Jim Downing is an IT&S Professional. It’s the path I’ve chosen and the one that he has continued to invest in myself. I’ve been in the IT&S industry for just over 15 years. He has aggressively climbed the corporate IT&S ladder and have been recognized by my customers and stakeholders as a value added member of the corporate team. IT has changed a lot of the years, from order takers to business champions. Today, IT&S is about creating value, enabling the business, and being able to respond to external forces upon the business. As an example, in the industry we take data points from various sources, we process the data, and then transform that data into information. We then discuss the possible outcomes with our senior leaders and make changes in our business outcomes or service strategy. This is the step where IT&S actually create value for the business.

Martin Davis is executive vice president of Southern Company Services and chief information officer of Southern Company, one of America’s most respected companies and a leading producer of clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy serving more than 9 million customers. Davis leads more than 2,000 technology professionals, supporting Southern Company’s subsidiaries. Davis has spent over 30 years leading complex technology organizations in highly regulated environments. He served as head of enterprise information technology, executive vice president and chief technology officer at Wells Fargo. He was instrumental in the financial institution’s integration of Wachovia, leading the largest technology Integration in the history of U.S. financial services. Davis has served in a wide range of technology leadership roles, including serving as Wachovia’s chief information officer.

Kenny Coleman is the Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer at CenterPoint Energy. 25-year record of success in driving community economic development and industry-leading revenue growth through building coalitions, driving new product growth, enhancing brands, leveraging relationships, and improving organizational performance. Coleman joins CenterPoint Energy following roles of increasing responsibility over more than 20 years at Southern Company and its subsidiaries, including serving as Senior Vice President and CIO where he led enterprise-wide IT. Most recently, Coleman served as President and CEO of the Birmingham Business Alliance (BBA) where he was responsible for developing collaborative efforts between the BBA and its community partners to lead economic growth for the seven-county Birmingham region. Coleman earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from the University of New Haven in New Haven, Conn., and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Alabama.

Mark Browning is the SVP & CIO and Information Technology Executive with over 25 years of experience leading IT teams in the Energy and Utility Industry. Vice President and Chief Information Officer for Exelon Utilities with overall responsibility for IT at Exelon’s family of utility companies – Baltimore Gas & Electric (BGE, Baltimore, MD), Commonwealth Edison (ComEd, Chicago, IL), Philadelphia Electric Company (PECO, Philadelphia, PA) and Pepco Holdings (Atlantic City Electric, Delmarva Power, Pepco) . Collectively, these utilities deliver Electricity and Gas to approximately 10 million customers. Successful career as a proven leader and mentor in the energy and utility industry holding numerous roles at Exelon including Enterprise Architecture Lead, IT Director of Utility Projects, IT Director of Utility Operations, and VP of IT for ComEd. Current focus as IT VP & CIO Exelon Utilities is driving standardization, collaboration, efficiency and consistency within the utilities for higher performance -- identifying best practices that all of the Exelon utilities can leverage. This focus extends to all areas including operations, project delivery and longer-term strategic IT planning. Additional responsibilities include IT Executive Sponsor for Exelon's NERC CIP program.

Tim Peterson is an accomplished corporate executive with demonstrated achievement leading product- and service-based businesses, driving enterprise growth and reducing costs through digital solutions - predominantly in financial services and healthcare sectors. Successful building high performance organizations aligned to business and customer needs. Track-record of delivering technology-driven, large-scale transformation and innovation agendas and building at-scale businesses. Effective change-agent with strong relationship building skills. Significant M&A expertise (strategy, deal structure, negotiations, integration) and corporate board engagement – both as C-suite executive and as external, independent board member. Prior to joining Xcel Energy, Peterson spent time in the Financial Services industry as president of CUNA Mutual AdvantEdge Digital – an advanced analytics and technology solutions business and as senior vice president and CIO for CUNA Mutual Group. Prior to that, Peterson spent over 15 years in the healthcare industry with Wellmark and UnitedHealth Group, serving in CIO and various executive management roles.

Tom Tang is Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Alliant Energy Corporation (NASDAQ: LNT). He joined the company in October 2020, bringing more than 20 years of experience in technology and software development. Tom’s leadership extends across the IT department, Enterprise Analytics and Technology Strategy. In his role, he leads teams that are leveraging new technologies that continue to play a greater role in how we deliver on our purpose to serve customers and build strong communities. During his career, Tom has been an innovative and results-oriented leader who has built world-class technology organizations and introduced transformative initiatives to improve the customer experience. This includes external customers, as well as his colleagues who rely on technological solutions to more effectively meet their goals. Prior to joining Alliant Energy, Tom served as Chief Technology Officer – Customer Experience for Sainsbury’s, one of the largest grocery and retail organizations in the United Kingdom. He also held the role of Chief Information Officer for Argos, a division of Sainsbury’s, leading all technology for general merchandise and clothing. His leadership experience also includes more than two decades in technology, where he introduced agile, data science and machine learning/automation.

Michael Rhymes joined Gates Corporation as Chief Information Officer in October 2015 with responsibility for IT globally. In his role, Michael ensures IT is aligned to support Gates business objectives and delivering value through the implementation of secure, cost effective and reliable technology. He leads a global team of IT professionals in setting the strategic direction, execution, and support of Gates applications, infrastructure, security, and network operations. Prior to his appointment at Gates, Rhymes served as the Vice President IT – Americas and Front End Systems for Electrical Sector for Eaton. In that role, he was responsible for setting global strategy and implementing customer facing front end systems throughout the Electrical Sector. In addition, he led the Electrical Sector Americas IT organization. Rhymes joined Eaton as part of the Cooper Industries acquisition initially serving as IT Integration Lead for Cooper. Prior to his role as IT Integration Lead, Michael held a number of roles at Cooper including VP IT / CIO, Global Director of Applications, and Director of Business Processes. Before joining Cooper in 2003, Michael held leadership roles in a variety of organizations, culminating in his position as an Account Executive with Cap Gemini.

Global Information Technology Executive with significant multiple industry experience that combines strong business acumen with broad technical knowledge to effectively select and implement technology solutions that advance business objectives, reduce costs and improve customer experience. Industry experience spans manufacturing, media, financial and insurance. Passionate about driving innovative solutions and driving business transformations to deliver outcomes that provide digital competitive advantages. Leverages Six Sigma Master Black Belt certification to deliver excellent operations. Skilled at navigating complex organizations and bringing order to chaotic situations; adept at evangelizing and motivating cross-functional collaboration in order to improve business performance, identify and cultivate high-performing talent, and ensuring that best practices are identified and implemented.