A graduate of Simcoe Composite School has been named the incoming president and chief executive officer for Ontario Power Generation as of 2025.
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Nicolle Butcher, a Simcoe native, has been appointed the head of the huge electricity generating fleet after moving through numerous roles at the company over the past 25 years.
“There is no one better equipped to lead our next chapter,” said Wendy Kei, the OPG board chair.
“Nicolle’s appointment reflects her more than 25 years of delivering operational, safety, and performance excellence across virtually every aspect of OPG’s business.”
Butcher has led the company’s corporate business growth and development and commercial business functions, including energy trading and market affairs.
Currently OPG’s chief operations officer, Butcher is responsible for a fleet that includes the Pickering and Darlington nuclear generating stations, 66 hydroelectric stations across the province and some thermal and solar facilities.
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Butcher will be replacing OPG’s president and CEO, Ken Hartwick, who is retiring at the end of the year after nearly nine years with the company.
“Ken’s contributions to our company, the Province of Ontario and the global energy sector will benefit many for generations to come,” said Kei.
Hartwick most recently was listed in the Ontario Sunshine list for 2023 with a salary of almost $2 million.
In a news release, Stephen Lecce, minister of Energy and Electrification, thanked Hartwick for his contribution to OPG and said he has “every confidence” in Butcher’s track record and experience to help meet “soaring energy demand” and plans for major refurbishments of nuclear and hydroelectric fleets.
Butcher graduated from McGill University with an MBA and is a chartered business valuator. She’s the chair of both Eagle Creek Renewable Energy and Atura Power, both associated with OPG and sits on the Interfor Corporation board.
Butcher was named one of Canada’s 100 most powerful women and Women of the Year by Women in Renewable Energy and the Association of Power Producers of Ontario.
She is married and the mother of two boys and one Labradoodle.
@EXPSGamble
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