COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 16, 2016 – American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) has named Bruce Evans to a newly created position as senior vice president and chief customer officer effective June 1. Evans is currently president and chief operating officer of AEP Texas. Evans will report to Robert P. Powers, executive vice president and chief operating officer. Judith E. Talavera will replace Evans as AEP Texas president and chief operating officer.

“Bruce’s new role as chief customer officer for AEP will be dedicated to ensuring that we have the right business models, regulatory structures and focus to effectively anticipate and meet the evolving needs and expectations of our customers,” said Nicholas K. Akins, AEP chairman, president and chief executive officer. “Bruce has demonstrated a keen customer focus and engaging leadership style throughout his career. By naming him chief customer officer and giving him responsibility for the areas that directly impact the relationships we have with customers and the services we provide, I’m confident that we can effectively transform and enhance how we interact with our customers.”

Evans’ new role will have responsibility for Customer Services, Marketing and Distribution Services; Regulatory Services; Technology Business Development and Infrastructure and Business Continuity.

Richard E. Munczinski, senior vice president - Regulatory Services, plans to retire in December 2016, and until that time, will work in an advisory role for AEP addressing regulatory and legislative issues, as well as special projects.

Evans, 60, has been president and chief operating officer for AEP Texas since August 2015, with responsibility for the company’s operations in south and west Texas. Previously, Evans was vice president - Distribution Operations for AEP Texas, with responsibility for all distribution system maintenance and operations for more than one million customers served by AEP Texas.

Evans spent the first 21 years of his career with Central and South West Corp., which merged with AEP in 2000. He rejoined AEP in 2012 from a position as vice president - Demand Management for Nexant Inc. in Houston. Additionally, Evans has held a number of leadership positions with major energy consulting firms, as well as with Cirro Energy and CPS Energy in San Antonio. 

Evans has a bachelor’s degree in finance from Hardin Simmons University in Abilene, Texas, and a Master of Business Administration in Finance from Dallas Baptist University. He attended the Advanced Management Program at Harvard University.

As president and chief operating officer for AEP Texas, Talavera, 42, will assume responsibility for the company’s operations in south and west Texas. She has been director of Regulatory Services for AEP Texas since November 2008. Talavera began her career with AEP in 2000 as manager of Governmental Affairs for AEP Texas.

Before joining AEP, Talavera worked in a number of legislative positions for former Texas State Sen. Mario Gallegos Jr., including serving as his legislative director. Talavera has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin and has completed the AEP/Ohio State University Leadership Program and Leadership Texas. Talavera serves as a board member on the Senate Hispanic Research Council.

American Electric Power is one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, delivering electricity and custom energy solutions to nearly 5.4 million customers in 11 states. AEP owns the nation’s largest electricity transmission system, a more than 40,000-mile network that includes more 765-kilovolt extra-high voltage transmission lines than all other U.S. transmission systems combined. AEP also operates 223,000 miles of distribution lines. AEP ranks among the nation’s largest generators of electricity, owning approximately 31,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the U.S. AEP also supplies 3,200 megawatts of renewable energy to customers. AEP’s utility units operate as AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia and West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana and east Texas). AEP’s headquarters are in Columbus, Ohio.