Avista announces retirement of CEO Dennis Vermillion, appoints replacement

Avista Corp. CEO Dennis Vermillion announced this week that he will retire in the first quarter of 2025.

Current Avista President and COO Heather Rosentrater has been appointed by the board of directors as the new CEO, effective Jan. 1, 2025. Rosentrater will also retain the role of president, and she will serve on the board.

“Heather has demonstrated a strong commitment to our company, employees, communities, and shareholders. I am confident she will successfully lead Avista into the future,” Vermillion said. “At every turn since joining Avista, Heather has positioned our utility to be at the forefront of innovation. She has demonstrated she possesses the values, strength, acumen, and insights to lead Avista during these unique times. I’m excited for Avista’s future under Heather’s leadership as CEO, the first female CEO in our company’s history.”

Rosentrater has been with Avista her entire career since 1996 when she started as a student engineering technician for Avista Labs, which became ReliOn. In 1999, Rosentrater joined Avista Corp. as an electrical engineer and was subsequently promoted to leadership roles in Avista’s electric and natural gas businesses.

In 2015 she was named vice president of energy delivery and in 2019 she became senior vice president of energy delivery and shared services. In August 2022, her responsibilities expanded to senior vice president and chief operating officer, and in 2023 she became president and COO.

“My family’s history in the area extends back to the founding of Avista, what was then called Washington Water Power, and the Spokane Falls has been the backdrop of my career,” Rosentrater said. “Having grown up in the area, including attending Gonzaga University, I am extremely honored to help continue Avista’s long-standing legacy of supporting community vitality through energy. It’s an incredible time to be in the energy industry. We have important work ahead of us to achieve our clean energy goals safely, responsibly, and affordably while remaining focused on our financial results.”

Vermillion joined Avista in 1985 and has served in senior leadership roles for the past 24 years. In addition to his role as CEO, Vermillion served as president of Avista Corp, senior vice president of Avista Corp., president of Avista Utilities, and vice president of energy resources. He also served as president and chief operating officer of subsidiary Avista Energy from 2001 until it was sold in 2007.

“As I approach my retirement, I am filled with pride in the work we have accomplished together,” Vermillion said. “One of the most rewarding achievements has been our successful succession planning efforts, which have ensured a smooth transition and a bright future for the company.”

Vermillion directed the business through an increasingly complicated regulatory climate, new energy policies, and the ongoing transition to clean energy. He promoted Avista’s ongoing investment to modernize its grid, meet increasing demand, and mitigate wildfire risk.

The post Avista announces retirement of CEO Dennis Vermillion, appoints replacement appeared first on Daily Energy Insider .