Emeka Anyanwu on Oct. 20 was approved by the board of Lincoln Electric System as the next CEO of the Nebraska public power utility.
The Lincoln City Council and Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird also must approve his appointment. If he is approved by both, Anyanwu’s start date is Jan. 2, 2024.
In his current role at Seattle City Light, Anyanwu leads functions that include utility technology, information security, electrification, grid modernization, and current and future power resource strategy.
Prior to Seattle City Light, he spent 16 years at Kansas City Power & Light (now Evergy) in various roles in leadership and transmission and distribution operations.
He currently serves as a Public Power Council executive committee member, Climate Solutions board member, Seattle City Light – Energy Northwest board representative, and Western Resource Adequacy Program committee representative.
Recent awards for him 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.
Anyanwu will replace outgoing LES CEO Kevin Wailes, who is retiring after more than 13 years of leading the publicly owned electric utility.
