ALLETE, Inc. (NYSE:ALE) announced today that James S. Haines, Jr. has
joined ALLETE’s board of directors.
Haines, a former CEO of two publicly traded utilities, is widely
recognized in the energy industry for his leadership skills both in the
board room and regulatory arena. He was elected by ALLETE’S Board of
Directors at its October 21, 2009 meeting.
From 2002 to 2007 Haines served as CEO and a Director of Westar Energy
(NYSE: WR). Westar Energy, the largest electric energy provider in
Kansas, serves more than 680,000 customers. Before joining Westar,
Haines was the Skov Professor of Business Ethics at the University of
Texas in El Paso.
From 1996 to 2001 Haines was CEO, president and a director of El Paso
Electric Company (NYSE:EE). EPEC generates and distributes electricity
to 360,000 customers in the Rio Grand Valley.
Haines served as executive vice president and chief administrative
officer of Westar Energy from March 1992 until he was named chief
operating officer in 1995. He served in that capacity until he joined El
Paso Electric in May, 1996.
Haines is a 1975 graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia Law
School. Upon Haines’ 2007 retirement from Westar, he was appointed the
Clark Distinguished Professor of Business at Washburn University in
Topeka, Kansas. Haines is a member of the board of Stormont-Vail
HealthCare in Topeka and is chairman of the board of the Topeka
Community Foundation.
“Jim has an excellent reputation for building relationships with
regulators, investors, employees and customers,” said ALLETE Chairman
and CEO Don Shippar. “Jim is a proven utility leader and the board looks
forward to his valued input and perspective.”
Based in Duluth, Minn., ALLETE (NYSE:ALE) provides regulated energy
services in Minnesota and Wisconsin, has an equity investment in the
American Transmission Company, and owns BNI Coal in North Dakota and
ALLETE Properties in Florida. More information about the company is
available at www.allete.com.
The statements contained in this release and statements that ALLETE
may make orally in connection with this release that are not historical
facts, are forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ
materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. These
forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and investors
are directed to the risks discussed in documents filed by ALLETE with
the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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