BALTIMORE — Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE) President and Chief Executive Officer Kenneth W. DeFontes Jr. has announced that he will retire from the company on February 28, 2014, after a 42-year tenure. DeFontes joined BGE in 1972 as an associate engineer and over his career was promoted to several key positions in company operations, including vice president, electric transmission and distribution. He was named president and CEO in 2004.
Calvin G. Butler Jr., BGE ‘s new CEO
Upon DeFontes’ retirement, Calvin G. Butler Jr., BGE’s senior vice president, regulatory and external affairs, will become BGE’s chief executive officer. Butler, an attorney, was named to his current role in February 2013, to oversee the company’s strategic direction and relationships with government, regulatory, community and other key stakeholders.
Prior to this role, Butler served as Exelon’s senior vice president of corporate affairs and held other leadership positions within Exelon and BGE’s sister utility, ComEd. Butler, who led the merger approval process between Exelon and Constellation Energy in Maryland, began his career working for a utility holding company and later ran operations for a national manufacturing company.
Stephen J. Woerner, currently BGE’s senior vice president and chief operating officer, will become president and chief operating officer. Woerner, who will report to Butler, will oversee the day-to-day operations of the company. Woerner joined BGE in 1990 and has held numerous technical and leadership roles at BGE and Constellation. He served as vice president and chief integration officer at Constellation Energy prior to being named BGE COO in 2012.