Direct Energy Announces Changes in Key Leadership Roles; New Appointments for U.S. Operations, Upstream & Energy Management

Direct Energy Chairman and CEO Deryk King has promoted two members of his leadership team to key positions within the company’s North American operations. The announcement comes on the heels of record first-half profits for the subsidiary of U.K.-based Centrica plc.

Phillip W. Tonge has been named President of U.S. Operations, responsible for leading Direct Energy’s retail activities throughout the United States, where the company currently operates in 13 states. Tonge, who joined Direct Energy in 2004 as Senior Vice President of the company’s Texas operations and President of CPL Retail Energy and WTU Retail Energy, has served in executive roles with a number of companies throughout his 29 years of experience, including AT&T and DuPont. He retains his role as a member of the Executive Committee of Direct Energy, as well as the company’s Business Risk Management and Financial Risk Management committees, and will continue on as a representative on the Centrica Global Diversity Council.

In support of Direct Energy’s upstream and energy-management activities, King has appointed former Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer Bill Cronin to the role of President, Upstream and Energy Management. In his new role, Cronin is responsible for all upstream natural gas, electricity generation, midstream and energy-management activities for North America. Cronin, whose roles at Direct Energy have included responsibility for the retail activities in the Northern U.S. markets, brings extensive executive experience in his 23 years in the commodity sector, to the role in leading both retail and wholesale risk- and energy-management activities, including Citigroup. He is also a member of Direct Energy’s Executive committee, Financial Risk, Pensions and Operations management committees.

“Our North American business model is strong and we intend to continue to build on the tremendous growth we’ve achieved in Canada and the U.S.,” said King. “Both Phil Tonge and Bill Cronin have been instrumental leaders in successfully executing on our strategy. Our U.S. retail and North American energy groups are key growth areas for our company, and I’m confident that they will continue to thrive under the direction of Phil and Bill.”

Direct Energy is North America’s largest non-utility energy solutions provider with retail operations in 13 states, including Texas, New York, Maryland, Delaware, Ohio, and Connecticut, as well as four Canadian provinces. The company also owns natural gas and power generation assets in Alberta and Texas, respectively, and is responsible for the procurement of more than $5 billion of natural gas and electricity annually across North America.

Direct Energy provides customers with choice and support in managing energy costs through a portfolio of innovative products and services. To learn more about Direct Energy or its energy-efficient products and services, visit http://www.directenergy.com .

Editor’s note: please see below for Tonge and Cronin bios

BIOGRAPHY

Phillip W. Tonge

As President of U.S. Operations, Phillip W. Tonge is responsible for leading Direct Energy’s retail activities throughout the United States. In addition to this, he serves as President of CPL Retail Energy and President of WTU Retail Energy in South and West Texas. Phil is also a member of the Executive Committee of Direct Energy, as well as the company’s Business Risk Management and Financial Risk Management committees. He is a member of the Centrica Global Diversity Council.

Prior to joining Direct Energy, Phil served in executive roles with a number of businesses. His 29 years of experience includes senior leadership responsibilities for consumer and business services at AT&T, as well as senior marketing and sales roles for DuPont and AT&T. While at AT&T his roles included President, Residential Local Services, Director Small Business Markets and Director for consumer long distance markets. He has a track record of leading fast and profitable growth in new venture areas of large companies.

Phil holds a B.A. from the University of Delaware and has attended numerous executive education programs while at AT&T and DuPont. Phil is a member of the Dallas Boys and Girls Clubs of America’s Board of Directors, and a trustee with the Southwest Region Boys and Girls Clubs of America. He has previously served as a board member of the Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce, and is a past member of the Dallas Citizens Council. Phil currently resides in Plano and Houston.

BIOGRAPHY

Bill Cronin

As President, Upstream and Energy Management, Bill is responsible for all upstream natural gas, power generation, midstream and energy-management activities for North America. Previously, as Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer, he was responsible for energy-management and Customer Operations. Prior to that, Bill was Senior Vice President and General Manager of DE’s retail operations outside of Texas. He is a member of the DE Executive, Financial Risk, Pensions and Operations, and Group Financial Risk Management committees.

Prior to joining Direct Energy, Bill was Managing Director, Risk Strategy and Trading and prior to that, Chief Risk Officer with NewPower, Inc., where he managed a portfolio of 800,000 retail natural gas and electricity customers in 16 utility regions. Prior to that, Bill was at Phibro, Inc. (a subsidiary of Citigroup) for 14 years, having roles including, Chief Credit Officer, Treasurer and rising to Chief Financial Officer and Head of Business Development.

Bill has a dual B.A. degree in economics and communications, with a minor in business communications from Oneonta State University in Oneonta, NY.

Source: Direct Energy