In his first 100 days, the new Lincoln Electric System (LES.com, LES) CEO, Emeka Anyanwu, has focused on understanding the complexity of the utility and engaging with employees to best learn their roles and responsibilities.
“What inspires me about LES is that it’s an organization that, in the grand scheme of the utility industry, might be small, but punches way above its weight,” says Anyanwu. “A utility that does incredibly complex things and works in an environment that is incredibly complicated but does so with a lot of grit, ingenuity, creativity and commitment by its people. It’s important for me to come up to speed and make sure I’m supporting the folks who are doing great work here so that they can continue to do great work.”
Anyanwu’s top priorities include engaging with customers to best understand their needs and hopes for their energy future. He plans on articulating a strategic direction for LES, as well as cultivating a strong culture for employees. Lastly, Anyanwu wants the utility to hone in and refine its mission to best serve the community. “Community is everything public power is and public power stands for,” said Anyanwu.
Prior to LES, Anyanwu served as Energy Innovation & Resources officer at Seattle City Light, one of the nation’s largest community-owned, not-for-profit utilities. In that role, he was responsible for leading functions that included utility technology, information security, electrification, grid modernization and current and future power resource strategy. He also served as a Public Power Council executive committee member, Climate Solutions board member, Seatle City Light – Energy Northwest board representative, and Western Resource Adequacy Program committee representative.
Earlier in his career, Anyanwu spent 16 years at Kansas City Power & Light (now Evergy) in various roles in leadership and transmission and distribution operations. He has a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Iowa State University and a Master of Business Administration from Rockhurst University. Recent awards include the Smart Electric Power Alliance’s Individual 2021 Power Player of the Year and the Energy Thought Summit’s 2023 Thought Leader of the Year.
Lincoln Electric System has provided electric energy in and around Lincoln, Nebraska, since 1966. LES is a public power utility, meaning that the utility is not for profit and is locally owned and governed. As one of the nation’s most efficient electric utilities, LES’ approximately 500 employees are committed to keeping electricity safe, reliable and affordable. For more information, visit LES.com.