Avista Corp. CEO Dennis Vermillion announced this week that he will retire in the first quarter of 2025.
Current Avista President and COO Heather Rosentrater has been appointed by the board of directors as the new CEO, effective Jan. 1, 2025. Rosentrater will also retain the role of president, and she will serve on the board.
“Heather has demonstrated a strong commitment to our company, employees, communities, and shareholders. I am confident she will successfully lead Avista into the future,” Vermillion said. “At every turn since joining Avista, Heather has positioned our utility to be at the forefront of innovation. She has demonstrated she possesses the values, strength, acumen, and insights to lead Avista during these unique times. I’m excited for Avista’s future under Heather’s leadership as CEO, the first female CEO in our company’s history.”
Rosentrater has been with Avista her entire career since 1996 when she started as a student engineering technician for Avista Labs, which became ReliOn. In 1999, Rosentrater joined Avista Corp. as an electrical engineer and was subsequently promoted to leadership roles in Avista’s electric and natural gas businesses.