Nick Stavropoulos to Lead Safety Efforts for Columbia Gas of Massachusetts

(UC) — Columbia Gas of Massachusetts has appointed Nick Stavropoulos to a new, senior role focused on safety. 

Stavropoulos will serve as Chief Safety Advisor for the company, and will report directly to Joe Hamrock, Chief Executive Officer and President of NiSource, parent company of Columbia Gas of Massachusetts.

Stavropoulos recently retired from his role as President and Chief Operating Officer of Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) following a career leading several of the country’s largest natural gas companies.

Stavropoulos will be based in Massachusetts and will advise on all operational safety strategy and planning statewide. As a senior safety expert, he will also engage regularly with external audiences as the company executes on its safety priorities across the state.

Mark Kempic will remain President and Chief Operating Officer of Columbia Gas of Massachusetts overseeing the operations of the Columbia Gas field and construction teams, including the work underway to verify abandoned service lines in the Merrimack Valley, and working in conjunction with Stavropoulos.

“We know that recent events have led many to lose trust in Columbia Gas and that our customers are worried about whether they are safe in their own homes,” said Hamrock. “We take responsibility for that lost sense of security, and to help rebuild confidence and trust we are bringing in an industry safety leader who knows Massachusetts.”

“Nick has the judgment, experience, and a relentless focus on safety to help us through these challenging times. With Nick’s expertise and steady hand, we know we will be better able to deliver our services—and most importantly, peace of mind—to our customers.”

Stavropoulos joined PG&E in 2011 to lead the multi-billion dollar recovery and restoration effort following the San Bruno explosion. He was promoted to President and COO in March 2017.

Prior to joining PG&E, Stavropoulos served as Executive Vice President, Gas Operations and Chief Operating Officer for National Grid USA, an electricity and natural gas delivery company serving nearly seven million customers in the Northeast United States. As COO of that company, he was responsible for all aspects of its U.S. gas distribution business.

Prior to that role, Stavropoulos was President of KeySpan Energy Delivery. He also held a number of senior leadership positions with successive levels of responsibility, including Chief Financial Officer, at KeySpan’s predecessor companies – Colonial Gas Company and Boston Gas.

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