Energy veteran named COO of Eversource

Eversource Energy has named Paul Chodak its new executive vice president and chief operating officer.

Chodak, who spent 22 years in operations roles at Columbus, Ohio-based American Electric Power, will start in the position effective Nov. 13. 

He replaces Werner Schweiger, who retired from Eversource in July.

Chodak has served as executive vice president of generation at American Electric Power since 2019, where he’s been responsible for operation and maintenance of the company’s wind, solar and hydro facilities.

Before that, he led seven utility companies in 11 states as American Electric Power’s executive vice president of utilities. He has also worked in engineering, environmental, project management and construction roles.

At Eversource, Chodak will lead the company’s electric transmission and distribution, gas, water, electric engineering and grid modernization efforts. He will also oversee emergency preparedness, offshore wind projects, operations services and safety organizations.

Chodak has a doctorate in nuclear engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a master’s degree in environmental engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. 

He also served 12 years in the U.S. Navy.

Eversource, headquartered in Hartford and Boston, serves 4.4 million customers in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.