DTE Energy Board Elects Anderson CEO; Earley Becomes Executive Board Chairman

DETROIT, Sept. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- DTE Energy President and Chief Operating Officer Gerard M. Anderson will become president and chief executive officer beginning Oct. 1, taking the reins from Anthony F. Earley Jr., who has been Anderson's mentor for the past decade.

The DTE Energy board of directors elected Anderson to the post yesterday afternoon.  Anderson, 52, has assumed increasing responsibility for key business functions over the last few years and was elected to the board last year.

Earley, 61, will have the title of executive chairman of the board and continue as a full-time employee of the company, with particular responsibility for relationships with external constituents.

"The board has been preparing for this change for several years, and we are both gratified and delighted to have the talent within our company required to guide DTE Energy well into the future," Earley said.  "Gerry is one of the most talented executives I have ever had work for me, and I look forward to seeing him take on even more responsibility at DTE Energy."

Anderson has served as DTE Energy president and chief operating officer since 2005. He first came to the company in 1993 as vice president of non-utility businesses.  He became executive vice president of DTE Energy in 1997, directing the company's power generation, power marketing, fuel supply and marketing activities.  He was named president of DTE Energy in 2004 and assumed chief operating officer responsibilities in 2005. Gerry Anderson Bio

"I am grateful that the DTE Energy board has the confidence in me to lead this company through the challenges of the current economy and the demands of the evolving energy industry," Anderson said.  "DTE Energy is involved daily in one of the most pressing challenges our state and our nation face – developing sustainable sources of energy that also enhance our nation's energy security.  And we are keenly focused on meeting that challenge in a way that is affordable for our customers.

"DTE Energy's priorities will remain the same. We are pushing hard to improve the quality of our operations and the service we provide customers.  We will remain involved in the communities we serve.  We are investing heavily in Michigan and in the broader region.  And our employees take great pride in being a Michigan-headquartered company that has an important role to play in renewing the prosperity of our state," he said.

Anderson will report directly to the board.  Earley will advise Anderson on strategic planning activities and share responsibility for community and governmental relations and other external issues.

Eugene Miller, retired chairman and CEO of Comerica Inc. and presiding director of the DTE Energy board of directors, said, "We are extremely fortunate to have two leaders of the caliber of Gerry and Tony. Gerry is a supremely talented, committed and hard working member of the DTE Energy leadership team, and we are confident in his ability to lead the company in this challenging marketplace."

Earley joined DTE Energy in 1994 and has been CEO and chairman of the board since 1998. He was president and COO from 1994 through 1998.  Tony Earley Bio

Anderson has extensive experience in strategic planning and corporate and business development, and broad experience managing capital intensive industries.  Prior to joining DTE Energy, he was a senior consultant at McKinsey and Co. Inc., specializing in the energy sector and financial institutions.

He has a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the University of Notre Dame, and earned a master of business administration degree and a master of public policy degree from the University of Michigan.  He is a director of The Andersons Inc., a company providing agricultural industry products and services, and a director of many community and nonprofit organizations.

DTE Energy (NYSE: DTE) is a Detroit-based diversified energy company involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services nationwide.  Its operating units include Detroit Edison, an electric utility serving 2.1 million customers in Southeastern Michigan; MichCon, a natural gas utility serving 1.2 million customers in Michigan; and other non-utility energy businesses focused on gas storage and pipelines, unconventional gas production, power and industrial projects, and energy trading. Information about DTE Energy is available at www.dteenergy.com and at www.twitter.com/dte_energy.

SOURCE DTE Energy