CenterPoint Energy Appoints Scott Prochazka To Succeed David McClanahan As CEO

(RTTNews) - CenterPoint Energy Inc. (CNP) announced that David McClanahan, 64, will step down as president and chief executive officer and as a member of the company's board of directors, effective December 31.

In addition, the company said its board has named Scott Prochazka, 47, the company's chief operating officer as McClanahan's successor. McClanahan will remain as an officer with the company and special advisor to the CEO during the first half of 2014.

Prochazka has been with CenterPoint Energy since October 2001 and at various times has led the operations of the company's electric and natural gas utility businesses. He also had key leadership roles in Corporate Strategic Planning and Customer Service. Before joining to CenterPoint Energy, Prochazka severed in a variety of roles for Dow Chemical from 1989 to 2001.

Prochazka currently serves on the boards of Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas and Gridwise Alliance. He also serves on the President's Advisory Board of the University of St. Thomas. He is past chairman of the Southeastern Electric Exchange and the Texas Gas Association.