The region”™s largest energy conglomerate has announced a change at the top, with a long time stalwart retiring as president at year”™s end and an experienced newcomer taking the reigns.
Carl Meyer, president of Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. for 10 years and a 40-year veteran of the company will retire Dec. 31, CH Energy Group, the Poughkeepsie-based parent of Central Hudson, said Oct. 21.
He will be replaced by James P. Laurito, who will assume the post of executive vice president of CH Energy Group and of Central Hudson Nov. 1 and assume the president’s role upon Meyer’s retirement.
“During the last decade, under Carl’s leadership, we confronted such challenges as deregulation of our industry, the requirement to provide superior service while controlling costs and the need to meet our customers’ growing expectations for ever more reliable power,” said Steven Lant, CH’s chairman and top executive. “We thank him for his dedicated service to the company and to the community, and we wish him the best in retirement.”
Laurito is familiar with life atop a power company. Between 2003 and 2009, he served as president of New York State Electric and Gas Corp., or NYSEG, and Rochester Gas and Electric Corp., as well as president and CEO of RGS Energy Group Inc., all subsidiaries of Iberdrola/Energy East Corp.
Laurito also served two terms on the Buffalo branch of the Federal Reserve System.
Laurito will report to Lant.
Meyer earned $766,954 in 2008, including stock awards and deferred earnings. Laurito’s pay was not stated in the announcement.
