Poppe Out at CMS Energy, Rochow Takes Helm as President, CEO

Garrick Rochow & Patti Poppe

Patti Poppe’s tenure as president and CEO of both CMS Energy and its Consumers Energy division, which started in 2016, is over.

Garrick Rochow & Patti Poppe

Poppe, CMS Energy officials announced Wednesday, is leaving the Jackson, Mich.-based energy company effective Dec. 1. She’s leaving to take over as CEO of California-based PG&E Corporation.

The company announced in a release that Poppe will be replaced by Garrick Rochow, the current executive vice president of operations. Rochow will also replace Poppe on CMS Energy’s Board of Directors.

John Russell, chairman of CMS Energy’s Board of Directors, laid high praise about Rochow and thanked Poppe for her efforts in announcing the move

“Garrick’s leadership approach, vast industry and company expertise will take CMS Energy and Consumers Energy to the next level,” Russell said. “You can count on CMS Energy to have consistent and predictable performance because of our strong succession planning and the quality of our executive team. I wish Patti the best of luck.”

Poppe said she’ll miss the CMS “family” and also praised Rochow.

“Since 2011, I have considered CMS Energy as my home and my co-workers as my family and I will miss everyone immensely,” Poppe said. “Garrick is a world class leader and will continue to deliver on the triple bottom line of people, planet and prosperity as we have for many years now.”

Rochow, 46, has been with CMS Energy for 17 years, with over 20 years of industry experience, and has held his current position since July 2016. In this role, he is responsible for the company’s electric and natural gas distribution and transmission operations, generation, and compression operations.

More: Health Leaders Make Joint Pitch for Safety Measures as COVID Surges

More: Johnson & Johnson CEO: Coronavirus-Vaccine Development ‘Encouraging,’ Likely in Early 2021

More: Back To Michigan Job Fair Series Goes Virtual to Entice ‘Boomerangs’ Back Home

Prior to this role, Rochow served in a variety of leadership positions across the business as Consumers Energy’s senior vice president of distribution and customer operations, vice president of customer experience, rates and regulation and quality and chief customer officer after serving as vice president of energy delivery.

He also works closely with the Michigan Public Service Commission, state and federal legislators and is on the Board of Directors of the Right Place in Grand Rapids.

Rochow graduated from Michigan Technological University with a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering and earned a master’s degree in business administration from Western Michigan University. He also has attended an executive education program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Wisconsin School of Business.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to lead a company with amazing co-workers who make a difference every day for our customers, investors and the communities we serve,” said Rochow. “I look forward to continuing our strong operational and financial performance, while creating an environment that keeps our customers and co-workers safe, reflects our culture and is inclusive and respectful of everyone.”