Nick Brown
Nick Brown, who arrived at Southwest Power Pool as an engineer in 1985, announced Friday that he’s retiring as the regional power transmission service’s CEO effective in April.
Brown, who was named president and CEO in 2003, revealed his plans at the nonprofit’s board of directors’ meeting. He is 60 now and will be 61 by the time he steps down.
During Brown’s tenure, SPP won designation in 2004 as a regional transmission organization recognized by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, initiated a service to address energy imbalances in the power grid in 2007 and oversaw the construction of a new corporate campus in west Little Rock, which opened in 2012.
“It’s been a great privilege to spend the last 34 years devoted to such a worthwhile mission, and to do that work with the caliber of people I’ve gotten to call my colleagues is a phenomenal blessing,” Brown said in a statement. “SPP has been a large part of my heart, mind and soul, making this a bit of an emotional time.”
Before taking the reins at SPP, which manages the grid and wholesale energy market for the central United States, Brown was senior vice president and corporate secretary from 1999-2003, vice president and corporate secretary from 1998-99; and director of engineering and operations from 1993-96. As CEO he helped launch SPP’s wholesale day-ahead Integrated Marketplace in 2014, oversaw $10 billion worth of transmission upgrades and directed the growth of the organization’s service territory from eight to 14 states. SPP was also honored as one of Arkansas’ Best Places to Work.
“Nick’s a tremendous leader,” board Chairman Larry Altenbaumer told his fellow members. “He’s made an indelible mark on this organization and will leave it with momentum carrying us toward a successful future. It’s nearly unprecedented, the level of success and evolution SPP has embraced on his watch.”
Brown has a degree in physics and math from Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, and in electrical engineering from Louisiana Tech University. He’s also an instrument-rated private pilot.
Board members voted to engage Russell Reynolds Associates to conduct a comprehensive search for Brown’s successor. “I very much look forward to passing the torch with anticipation to see how it continues to flourish under the leadership of the next president and CEO,” said Brown, who has what SPP spokesman Derek Wingfield called a passion for corporate governance, plans to remain on the board of Bank OZK and will entertain invitations to serve on other boards.
SPP’s 2017 tax form 990 listed Brown’s executive compensation at $1.17 million for that year.
Sign up for Daily E-news
