Evergy Chairman to Retire, CEO David Campbell to Assume Role in May

Posted March 11, 2024

Evergy, Inc. announced chairman Mark Ruelle plans to retire later this year leaving the company’s president and CEO to take up his position.

Ruelle has served as board chairman since 2018 following the merger between Westar Energy, Inc. and Great Plains Energy, the predecessor companies that would form Evergy. Before the two companies completed the $14 billion merger, Ruelle served as president and CEO of Westar since August 2011.

Evergy’s current president and CEO, David Campbell, has been nominated by the board of directors to assume the role of chairman. Campbell will take on the role at the Evergy annual meeting in May, according to a release Friday.

The Evergy board of directors has nominated CEO David Campbell as the next board chairman. Photo credit: Evergy Inc.

“It’s been an honor to serve Evergy and its predecessor companies for more than three decades,” Ruelle said in the release. “Seeking out and making a living in this industry, with this company, was my good fortune. Nothing in a career is so gratifying as to work alongside highly skilled craftsmen and women and dedicated business professionals to provide a service that none of us can imagine living without.”

Campbell became CEO of Evergy in January 2021. He succeeded Terry Bassham who also retired from his position. Bassham served as CEO of Great Plains Energy before the electric companies’ merger. Campbell joined Evergy after serving as CFO of Dallas-based Vistra Energy Corp.

“Mark has provided outstanding leadership as chairman of our board for the past six years since the merger that created Evergy,” Campbell said in the release. “His vision and experience had a significant positive impact on the company’s success, and he has served as a highly valued partner and mentor. We thank Mark for his more than 30 years of exceptional service and leadership at both Westar and Evergy and congratulate him as he begins his next chapter.”

Campbell has been featured in Ingram’s 250: Kansas City’s Most Influential Business Leaders every year since he joined the company in 2021.

Evergy ranks No. 2 in both Top Area Public Companies and Top Area Utilities, featured in Ingram’s The Power Book 2024 edition. The company made gross revenue of $5.86 billion in 2022.