PJM CEO Manu Asthana To Step Down at Year's End; Transition Planning Underway

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Apr 14, 2025, 15:38 ET

VALLEY FORGE, Pa., April 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- PJM Interconnection announced today that President & CEO Manu Asthana has decided to step down from his role at the end of 2025. Asthana will serve as senior advisor to the PJM Board through June 2026.

"The PJM Board is grateful to Manu for his strong leadership during a time of tremendous change in the electricity industry. Under his leadership, PJM successfully navigated the COVID-19 pandemic, significant market reforms, interconnection process enhancements, the buildout of a robust risk management function, and the delivery of world-class grid reliability through a variety of extreme weather events," said PJM Board Chair Mark Takahashi.

"He has been a vocal advocate for grid reliability needs, helping shape the national conversation around the importance of finding ways to reliably serve rapidly expanding demand for electricity," Takahashi continued. "Manu and the Board have worked together to develop PJM's internal succession pipeline. We have a strong Executive Team, including internal succession candidates. We will also consider external candidates for this role."

The PJM Board has formed a CEO Search Committee and has engaged Korn Ferry to assist with the search. The PJM Board intends to solicit input from PJM members and stakeholders as part of its search process, which is targeted to conclude later this year.

"My five-plus years at the helm of PJM have been some of the most fulfilling of my career. I am especially appreciative of the opportunity to have led PJM's remarkably talented, diligent and committed people, who work hard every day to keep the power flowing for 67 million people."

"The time has now come for my wife and me to move back to be closer to our family and friends in Texas," Asthana said. "I look forward to continuing to lead the organization through the end of the year and to helping facilitate an orderly transition to my successor."

PJM Interconnection, founded in 1927, ensures the reliability of the high-voltage electric power system serving 67 million people in all or parts of Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. PJM coordinates and directs the operation of the region's transmission grid, which includes 88,333 miles of transmission lines; administers a competitive wholesale electricity market; and plans regional transmission expansion improvements to maintain grid reliability and relieve congestion. PJM's regional grid and market operations produce annual savings of $3.2 billion to $4 billion. For the latest news about PJM, visit PJM Inside Lines at insidelines.pjm.com.