DULUTH – Allete Inc., parent company of Minnesota Power, promoted its president to CEO on Monday.
Bethany Owen will be the first woman to hold the role when she replaces Al Hodnik, who has led the company for a decade and is retiring.
"I am humbled and excited to lead Allete and its incredible team of talented and dedicated employees," Owen, 54, said in a statement.
Last year, Owen, who has been with the company since 2002, was promoted to president as part of "strategic succession planning" for Hodnik's planned retirement, the company said.
"Bethany's strong values-based leadership style, her proven ability to execute while positioning against winds of change and her laser focus on talent development will assure Allete's momentum continues as the new decade dawns," said Hodnik, 60, who will remain on the board as executive chairman until May 2021.
In addition to Minnesota Power, which has more than 145,000 customers across northern and central Minnesota, Allete owns Superior Water, Light and Power as well as Allete Clean Energy and BNI Energy.
Owen, who earned a law degree from the University of Minnesota Law School, takes over at a busy time for Minnesota Power, the largest part of Allete.
The utility is seeking a 10.5% rate increase that state regulators will rule on late this year or early next. In January, an interim increase went into effect, adding about $6 to the average homeowner's monthly bill.
