McCord to Retire; Granata Named Vice President of Safety and Health

As vice president of Safety and Health, Granata will lead the company’s efforts to achieve Zero Harm. This includes shaping the company’s strategic plan to move AEP’s safety and health culture forward. He will report to Lisa Barton, executive vice president and chief operating officer. Natalie McCord, vice president, Safety and Health, has announced plans to retire on February 18 after 30 years with the company. Mike Granata, regional director – Virginia and West Virginia, Safety and Health, will be promoted to vice president, Safety and Health, effective, February 5.

“During Natalie’s 30 years at AEP, she’s been committed to the safety and welfare of our employees,” said Barton. “Under her leadership, AEP took important steps forward to change our safety and health culture, including the completion of our five-year Safety and Health Transformation. She will leave a lasting legacy at AEP and we wish her all the best in her retirement.”

Barton added, “Mike is an experienced safety and health professional who brings deep appreciation and experience with operations to this role. He led numerous efforts during our transformation that created a foundation for AEP to improve its safety culture.”

Granata joined Appalachian Power in 1988 as an industrial hygiene professional. He has held progressive leadership roles at Appalachian Power and AEP’s corporate Safety and Health organization. Most recently, he was regional director – West Virginia, Safety and Health, where he managed safety and health efforts for all AEP operations in the territory.

Granata has bachelor’s degree in Industrial Hygiene from Ohio University and a master’s degree in business administration from Franklin University. He is also a Certified Industrial Hygienist by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene and a Certified Safety Professional by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals.

McCord has lead the Safety and Health organization since 2016. Prior to that, she held various leadership roles across the company including director, Transmission Construction – West Region and manager, Distribution Services for the Columbus district in AEP Ohio. She joined AEP in 1992 and held a variety of management positions for the company in distribution, engineering design and distribution dispatch in Oklahoma, Ohio and Louisiana.