Consumers Energy Names Michele Kirkland as Vice President of Energy Operations

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Sep 16, 2011, 02:00 ET

JACKSON, Mich., Sept. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Michele Kirkland, who has more than two decades of utility experience, has been named vice president of energy operations for Consumers Energy.

In her new position, Kirkland will have overall responsibility for the construction, operation and maintenance of the electric and natural gas systems that provide safe, reliable energy service to 1.8 million electric customers and 1.7 million gas customers. She also will be responsible for network services, gas transmission and storage, metering operations, and the company's appliance service business.

Kirkland's appointment is effective Oct. 1. She will report to Daniel Malone, senior vice president of distribution and customer operations.

"Michele is dedicated to the company's mission of providing safe, reliable and affordable energy service to its customers. She has extensive experience in the company's field operations and is a proven leader who achieves consistent results through teamwork and working in a collaborative manner," Malone said.

Kirkland now serves as the utility's executive manager of operations services. She joined Consumers Energy in 1987 and has held a series of increasingly responsible positions, including a decade in field operations management at several levels. She holds a bachelor's degree from Michigan State University.

Kirkland succeeds Rufus Gladney, who recently passed away.

Consumers Energy, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS), provides natural gas and electricity to 6.8 million of Michigan's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.

For more information about Consumers Energy, visit our Website at www.consumersenergy.com

SOURCE Consumers Energy