JACKSON – Consumers Energy on Thursday announced four leadership moves, partly driven by the retirement of several top executives.

The planned leadership moves announced today occur in light of pending retirements of Ronn Rasmussen, vice president of strategy and research and a 37-year employee, and Jack Hanson, senior vice president of energy resources and a 28-year employee.

Consumers Energy’s Board of Directors approved the following leadership changes:

? Dan Malone is named senior vice president of energy resources. Malone previously served as senior vice president of distribution operations and engineering & transmission. He has overall responsibility for the sourcing and supply of electricity and natural gas for Consumers Energy’s 3 million residential and business customers, including oversight of the company’s generation fleet, and gas compression and storage.

? Patti Poppe is named senior vice president of distribution operations, engineering and transmission. She previously served as vice president of customer experience, rates and regulation. Poppe has overall responsibility for the company’s electric and gas distribution systems, energy operations, electric transmission, and gas transmission.

? Garrick Rochow is named vice president of customer experience, rates and regulation, and quality. He previously served as vice president of customer operations and quality, and as vice president of energy delivery. Rochow has overall responsibility for the company’s commitment to customer service and satisfaction, quality, rates and regulatory relations.

? Cathy Hendrian is named vice president of human resources. Formerly the director of human resources, Hendrian has responsibility for the development and implementation of the company’s workforce strategy.

“We continue to deliver on our Promise to Michigan, delivering energy safely, affordably, reliably and sustainably. Today’s leadership announcement builds on more than 128 years of serving communities across our state,” said John Russell, president and chief executive officer for Consumers Energy.