<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><i xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Darcy Reese to Retir...

<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><i xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Darcy Reese to Retire at End of Year</i></p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><span xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" class="legendSpanClass">COLUMBUS, Ohio</span>, <span xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" class="legendSpanClass">May 8, 2026</span> /PRNewswire/ -- American Electric Power (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AEP">AEP</a>) has named Andy Gurgol vice president of Investor Relations, effective May 9. He will succeed Darcy Reese, who will retire at the end of the year. Gurgol will report to Trevor Mihalik, executive vice president and chief financial officer.</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">&#34;I am thrilled that Andy joined the AEP team this year, bringing his experience in corporate development and strategy to the finance organization,&#34; Mihalik said. &#34;This is an exciting time for AEP as we work to seize the extraordinary growth opportunities ahead of us, and I believe Andy will excel at communicating our vision for the future to the investor community.&#34; </p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Gurgol joined AEP in January 2026 as managing director, Corporate Strategy and Development. Prior to joining AEP, he spent nearly 14 years working in the utility and energy infrastructure sectors. Gurgol worked at Sempra for nearly a decade, where he held progressive leadership roles, including director, Corporate Development and Strategy. In this role, he was responsible for M&amp;A and strategy development across the enterprise. Earlier in his career, Gurgol worked at NextEra Energy, leading economic and strategic analyses for over $1.5 billion in renewable energy investments. He began his career with FirstEnergy in its financial forecasting and analytics department.</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">In addition to his time working in the utility sector, Gurgol worked at the World Resources Institute, where he served as senior manager of Conservation Finance. In this role, he led initiatives in partnership with utilities, private sector companies, and federal and state agencies to deploy investments in environmental restoration projects that mitigate catastrophic wildfire risk, strengthen infrastructure and community resilience, and generate attractive financial returns.</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Gurgol holds a finance degree from the University of Toledo.</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">&#34;Communicating AEP&#39;s strategy to execute and deliver on the tremendous growth plans ahead will be critical as we invest $78 billion in our system through 2030,&#34; Gurgol said. &#34;I look forward to meeting our investors and analysts over the next several months to begin building our relationships.&#34;</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Since 2020, Reese has led AEP&#39;s investor relations team, overseeing shareholder engagement, guiding the quarterly earnings narrative, and directing the company&#39;s annual meeting of shareholders.</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">After more than 35 years in finance and accounting, Reese plans to retire at the end of 2026. She will continue to lead AEP&#39;s investor relations efforts until that time.</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">&#34;Darcy has been an outstanding advocate for AEP with our investor community,&#34; Mihalik added. &#34;She has been an integral member of our finance team, and her contributions to AEP have helped us grow into the company we are today. We wish Darcy and her family the best when she embarks on her next chapter at the end of the year.&#34;</p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><b xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">ABOUT AEP</b></p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">American Electric Power (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AEP">AEP</a>) is committed to improving our customers&#39; lives with reliable, affordable power. We plan to invest $78 billion from 2026 through 2030 to enhance service for customers and support the growing energy needs of our communities. Our nearly 18,000 employees operate and maintain the nation&#39;s largest electric transmission system with 40,000 line miles, along with more than 252,000 miles of distribution lines to deliver energy to 5.6 million customers in 11 states. AEP also is one of the nation&#39;s largest electricity producers with approximately 32,000 megawatts of diverse owned and contracted generating capacity. We are focused on safety and operational excellence, creating value for our stakeholders and bringing opportunity to our service territory through economic development and community engagement. Our family of companies includes AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana, east Texas and the Texas Panhandle). AEP also owns AEP Energy, which provides innovative competitive energy solutions nationwide. AEP is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. For more information, visit aep.com.</p><div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" class="PRN_ImbeddedAssetReference" id="DivAssetPlaceHolder6073"><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" href="https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/476288/American_Electric_Power_Logo.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><img xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" src="https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/476288/American_Electric_Power_Logo.jpg" title="(PRNewsfoto/American Electric Power)" alt="(PRNewsfoto/American Electric Power)"></img></a></p></div>
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<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" id="PURL"><img xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" title="Cision" width="12" height="12" alt="Cision" src="https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/img/favicon.png?sn=CL55039&amp;sd=2026-05-08"></img> View original content to download multimedia:<a xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" id="PRNURL" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aep-names-andy-gurgol-vice-president-of-investor-relations-302767110.html" target="_blank">https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aep-names-andy-gurgol-vice-president-of-investor-relations-302767110.html</a></p><p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">SOURCE American Electric Power</p>

AEP Names Andy Gurgol Vice President of Investor Relations

AEP Appoints New VP of Investor Relations Amid $78 Billion Investment Strategy

<section class="insight" data-version="1">
  <section data-block="information">
    <h3>Information</h3>
    <p>&lt;p xmlns=&quot;http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml&quot;&gt;&lt;i xmlns=&quot;http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml&quot;&gt;Darcy Reese to Retir...</p>
  </section>

  <section data-block="ai-summary-paragraph">
    <h3>AI Summary</h3>
    <p>American Electric Power has appointed Andy Gurgol as Vice President of Investor Relations, succeeding retiring Darcy Reese. Gurgol&#039;s focus will be on effectively communicating the company&#039;s ambitious $78 billion investment strategy aimed at enhancing service and aligning with future growth opportunities.</p>
  </section>

  <section data-block="ai-summary-bullets">
    <h3>Key Points</h3>
    <ul><li>Andy Gurgol appointed as VP of Investor Relations at AEP.</li><li>He replaces retiring Darcy Reese, effective May 9, 2026.</li><li>Gurgol aims to communicate AEP&#039;s growth strategy to investors.</li><li>AEP plans to invest $78 billion to enhance service through 2030.</li><li>Gurgol has extensive experience in corporate strategy and development.</li></ul>
  </section>

  <section data-block="companies-mentioned">
    <h3>Companies Mentioned</h3>
    <ul><li><strong>Sempra (SRE)</strong>: Previous employer of Gurgol, significant in energy market.</li><li><strong>NextEra Energy (NEE)</strong>: Gurgol&#039;s experience here enhances investor confidence in AEP&#039;s growth strategy.</li></ul>
  </section>

  <section data-block="category">
    <h3>Corporate Developments</h3>
    <p>This news fits under Corporate Developments as it highlights a leadership change that is pivotal for AEP&#039;s communication strategy with investors, particularly amidst planned capital investments that necessitate clear messaging regarding growth and strategy execution.</p>
  </section>

  <section data-block="market-moving">
    <h3>Market-Moving</h3>
    <ul><li>Gurgol&#039;s role is critical for investor perception amidst significant capital investment plans.</li><li>Continued focus on growth could attract more institutional investors.</li><li>AEP&#039;s $78 billion investment could significantly enhance operational capacity, improving long-term revenue.</li><li>Leadership changes in Investor Relations can impact stock volatility based on communication effectiveness.</li></ul>
  </section>

  <section data-block="key-facts">
    <h3>Key Facts</h3>
    <ul><li>AEP plans to invest $78 billion from 2026 to 2030.</li><li>Gurgol joined AEP in January 2026 as Managing Director of Corporate Strategy.</li><li>Darcy Reese will continue until the end of 2026.</li><li>Gurgol has 14 years&#039; experience in the utility and energy sectors.</li><li>AEP serves 5.6 million customers in 11 states.</li></ul>
  </section>

  <section data-block="trading-thesis">
    <h3>Trading Thesis</h3>
    <p>AEP is positioned favorably for growth; consider buying AEP shares within the next 3-6 months.</p>
  </section>
</section>


<article>
    <h2>AEP Appoints Andy Gurgol as Vice President of Investor Relations</h2>
    <p>COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- American Electric Power (NASDAQ: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AEP">AEP</a>) has announced the appointment of <strong>Andy Gurgol</strong> as the new Vice President of Investor Relations, effective May 9. Gurgol will succeed <strong>Darcy Reese</strong>, who is set to retire at the end of the year. Gurgol will report directly to <strong>Trevor Mihalik</strong>, the company's Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.</p>
    
    <h3>Leadership Transition at AEP</h3>
    <p>Trevor Mihalik expressed his enthusiasm for Gurgol's appointment, stating, “I am thrilled that Andy joined the AEP team this year, bringing his experience in corporate development and strategy to the finance organization. This is an exciting time for AEP as we work to seize the extraordinary growth opportunities ahead of us, and I believe Andy will excel at communicating our vision for the future to the investor community.”</p>

    <h3>Background of Andy Gurgol</h3>
    <p>Gurgol joined AEP in January 2026 as the Managing Director of Corporate Strategy and Development. He boasts nearly 14 years of experience in the utility and energy infrastructure sectors. Before AEP, Gurgol spent nearly a decade at Sempra, where he held several progressive leadership roles, including Director of Corporate Development and Strategy. His responsibilities included overseeing mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and strategy development across the enterprise.</p>
    
    <p>Earlier in his career, Gurgol served as a leader in economic and strategic analyses for over <strong>$1.5 billion</strong> in renewable energy investments at NextEra Energy. He began his career at FirstEnergy in its financial forecasting and analytics department, establishing a strong foundation in finance.</p>
    
    <h3>Commitment to Sustainable Growth</h3>
    <p>In addition to his utility sector experience, Gurgol worked at the <strong>World Resources Institute</strong> as Senior Manager of Conservation Finance. There, he led initiatives aimed at partnering with utilities, private sector companies, and federal and state agencies to deploy investments in environmental restoration projects. These projects focused on mitigating catastrophic wildfire risk, strengthening infrastructure and community resilience, while also generating attractive financial returns.</p>

    <h3>Investing in AEP's Future</h3>
    <p>Gurgol holds a finance degree from the <strong>University of Toledo</strong>. He emphasized the importance of communicating AEP's strategic vision, stating, “Communicating AEP's strategy to execute and deliver on the tremendous growth plans ahead will be critical as we invest <strong>$78 billion</strong> in our system through 2030. I look forward to meeting our investors and analysts over the next several months to begin building our relationships.”</p>

    <h3>Darcy Reese: A Legacy of Service</h3>
    <p>Darcy Reese has been at the helm of AEP's investor relations team since 2020, guiding shareholder engagement, managing the quarterly earnings narrative, and directing the company's annual shareholder meetings. After more than 35 years in finance and accounting, Reese plans to retire at the end of 2026 but will continue to lead AEP's investor relations efforts until that time.</p>

    <p>Mihalik praised Reese’s contributions to AEP, remarking, “Darcy has been an outstanding advocate for AEP with our investor community. She has been an integral member of our finance team, and her contributions to AEP have helped us grow into the company we are today. We wish Darcy and her family the best when she embarks on her next chapter at the end of the year.”</p>
    
    <h3>About American Electric Power (AEP)</h3>
    <p>American Electric Power (NASDAQ: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AEP">AEP</a>) is dedicated to enhancing customers' lives with reliable, affordable power. The company plans to invest <strong>$78 billion</strong> between 2026 and 2030 to improve service and meet the growing energy demands of its communities. With approximately 18,000 employees, AEP operates the nation's largest electric transmission system, featuring <strong>40,000 line miles</strong> and over <strong>252,000 miles</strong> of distribution lines that serve <strong>5.6 million customers</strong> across 11 states.</p>
    
    <p>AEP is among the largest electricity producers in the country, possessing around <strong>32,000 megawatts</strong> of diverse owned and contracted generating capacity. The company's focus on safety, operational excellence, and community engagement continues to create value for stakeholders. AEP's family of companies includes major regional utilities, and it also operates AEP Energy, a provider of innovative competitive energy solutions nationwide. AEP is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. For more information, visit <a href="https://www.aep.com">aep.com</a>.</p>
</article>

American Electric Power has appointed Andy Gurgol as Vice President of Investor Relations, succeeding retiring Darcy Reese. Gurgol's focus will be on effectively communicating the company's ambitious $78 billion investment strategy aimed at enhancing service and aligning with future growth opportunities.

AEP Names Andy Gurgol Vice President of Investor Relations

AI Summary

Sentiment Rationale

Trading Thesis

Market-Moving

Key Facts

Companies Mentioned

Corporate Developments

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