RICHMOND, Va., Dec. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Dominion (NYSE: D) announced today a number of executive changes effective Jan. 1, 2014, including the promotions of Robert M. Blue to president of the Dominion Virginia Power business unit and Diane Leopold to president of the Dominion Energy business unit. Both will report to Paul D. Koonce, chief executive officer of the Energy Infrastructure Group.

Among other executive changes announced are the promotions of P. Rodney Blevins to senior vice president & chief information officer and Katheryn B. Curtis to senior vice president–Power Generation.

"These changes are part of a continuing process to make Dominion even better as we work to serve all of our stakeholders, take advantage of new opportunities, and adapt to the evolving energy marketplace," said Dominion Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Thomas F. Farrell II. "The changes also recognize the talent, dedication and outstanding work of these individuals."

Blue, currently senior vice president–Law, Public Policy & Environment, will be responsible for all of Dominion's electric distribution and transmission operations, customer service, customer solutions and energy conservation initiatives for Dominion Virginia Power and Dominion North Carolina Power. Those functions currently report directly to Koonce.

Blue joined Dominion in 2005 as managing director–State Affairs & Corporate Public Policy, and was later promoted to vice president–State & Federal Affairs. He was named senior vice president-Public Policy & Corporate Communications in 2008 and became senior vice president–Public Policy & Environment in February 2010. He assumed his current position in January 2011. From 2002 to 2005, he served as counselor and director of policy in the administration of Virginia Gov. Mark R. Warner, and was a partner with the law firm now known as Hogan Lovells prior to that.

Blue is a graduate of the University of Virginia and Yale Law School. He also earned his master's degree in business administration from the University of Virginia's Darden School of Business.

Leopold, currently senior vice president–Dominion Transmission, will add responsibility for the company's Dominion East Ohio and Dominion Hope natural gas distribution utilities. She will continue to be responsible for Dominion's natural gas transmission, storage and liquefaction operations; engineering; and marketing.

Leopold joined Dominion in 1995 and held numerous positions in project and commercial management, market analysis and asset valuation, and strategy development before becoming vice president–Business Planning & Market Analysis in 2004. She was named vice president–Financial Management, Dominion Energy in 2006 and vice president–Fossil & Hydro Merchant Operations in 2007. She was named senior vice president–Business Development & Generation Construction in 2009, and assumed her current post April 1, 2012. Prior to joining Dominion, she held various engineering positions at Potomac Electric Power Co.'s power stations.

Leopold was graduated from the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom in 1989 with a bachelor's degree in mechanical and electrical engineering. She received a master's degree in electrical engineering (energy conversion, power and transmission) in 1993 from George Washington University and an MBA in 1998 from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Blevins, currently vice president–Distribution Operations for Dominion Virginia Power, will be responsible in his new position for the company's information technology (IT) and telecommunications functions. Blevins joined Dominion in 1987 as an associate engineer. After serving in several leadership positions, he was promoted to his current position in 2006. Blevins has a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Virginia Tech. He also completed the advanced management program at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business.

Curtis, currently vice president–Retail, will be responsible for all of Dominion's power generation fleet except nuclear. Curtis joined what is now Dominion Virginia Power in 1981 and has held numerous leadership positions in generation, human resources, supply management, IT, and asset acquisition and integration. She was promoted to vice president-Fossil & Hydro Merchant Operations in 2009 and assumed her current post in January 2012. Curtis has a bachelor's degree in liberal arts from the University of Virginia and an executive MBA from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Other executive changes

Carter M. Reid, senior vice president–Administrative Services, chief compliance officer & corporate secretary, will become senior vice president–chief administrative and compliance officer & corporate secretary. She will add responsibilities for IT, telecommunications and environment.

Mary C. Doswell, senior vice president–Alternative Energy Solutions (AES), will become senior vice president–Retail and Alternative Energy Solutions, adding responsibility for Dominion Retail.  

Daniel A. Weekley, vice president–Government Affairs, will become vice president–Corporate Affairs, adding responsibilities for corporate communications, philanthropy and community affairs.

Three Dominion senior vice presidents also are receiving new assignments on Jan. 1. J. David Rives, senior vice president–Power Generation, will become senior vice president–Distribution at Dominion Virginia Power. Steven A. Rogers, senior vice president and chief information officer, will become senior vice president­–Financial Management (Dominion Generation Group). Fred G. Wood, senior vice president-Financial Management (Dominion Generation Group), will become senior vice president-Financial Management (Energy Infrastructure Group).

Dominion is one of the nation's largest producers and transporters of energy, with a portfolio of approximately 23,500 megawatts of generation, 11,000 miles of natural gas transmission, gathering and storage pipeline, and 6,400 miles of electric transmission lines.  Dominion operates one of the nation's largest natural gas storage systems with 947 billion cubic feet of storage capacity and serves retail energy customers in 15 states. For more information about Dominion, visit the company's website at www.dom.com.

SOURCE Dominion