Former President and CEO Tom Kilgore presents ceremonial key to TVA to new President and CEO Bill Johnson. Courtesy: TVA
The Tennessee Valley Authority started the New Year with new leadership.
Bill Johnson, newly named president and CEO of the Tennessee Valley
Authority, was welcomed Wednesday by TVA employees to his first day on
the job. He replaced retiring CEO Tom Kilgore, who presented Johnson with the ceremonial "Keys to TVA" as a symbol of the $11 billion agency's transition to new leadership.
In a message to TVA employees, Johnson said his initial focus will be to
continue learning more about TVA, its business and its people. Over the
next few months, his plans include traveling across TVA's seven-state
service area to visit TVA facilities and offices; local power companies
and industrial customers; and key public officials to hear firsthand
about TVA successes and opportunities for improvement.
"TVA's service mission of cleaner, low cost energy, environmental
stewardship, and sustainable economic growth is as important today as
ever," Johnson said. "TVA is a unique entity with a rich history, and I
thank the TVA board and the people of the Tennessee Valley for allowing
me the opportunity to be part of that successful tradition."
Johnson moved to Knoxville with Sally, his wife of more than 36 years.
His hobbies and interests include gardening, working out, home
improvement projects, and baking breads, pastries and cakes. He also
enjoys a wide variety of music, including classic country, classic rock,
bluegrass, reggae and opera, and is an avid reader.
There are also four new TVA Board nominees who were just confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Tuesday: V. Lynn Evans, Peter Mahurin, Michael McWherter and Joe Ritch. They must still be approved by President Obama before they can be sworn into office.
In a statement released Wednesday, Senator Lamar Alexander said, "I believe, after meeting these individuals and studying their backgrounds and qualifications, that they will provide strong board leadership."
Senator Bob Corker said, "I appreciate the willingness of experienced individuals to serve TVA as it goes through an important leadership transition over the next few months."