The board of directors of Milwaukee-based Wisconsin Energy Corp. elected J. Patrick Keyes executive vice president and chief financial officer.
Keyes, 46, succeeds Frederick “Rick” Kuester, who will retire in January at the age of 62. Keyes will become CFO of the company on Sept. 1.
“Rick has made countless contributions to our success over the past nine years,” said Gale Klappa, chairman, president and chief executive of Wisconsin Energy. “He led our generation business, successfully guiding the completion of the company’s Power the Future plan — the largest construction program in Wisconsin history. More recently, he has served with distinction as our chief financial officer. We wish him the very best in the years ahead.”
Kuester will continue to serve as an executive vice president reporting to Klappa, assisting with the leadership transition until his retirement in 2013.
“Through our succession planning process, we have in place a highly competent successor to Rick,” Klappa said. “Pat Keyes has extensive knowledge of the utility industry. His background and his financial expertise have prepared him well for his new role.”
Keyes has been vice president and treasurer of the company since 2011.
