New Jersey Resources promotes COO to president’s role

File photo Steve Westhoven will become CEO of New Jersey Resources.

New Jersey Resources has promoted its executive vice president and chief operating officer, it announced Monday.

Stephen Westhoven will now be president of NJR, as well as COO, effective Oct. 1. Westhoven will join the board of directors, and continue to report to Chairman and CEO Laurence M. Downes.

In his new role, he will oversee finance and technology, in addition to his current job leading NJR’s regulated and unregulated business, including New Jersey Natural Gas, NJR Energy Services and NJR Clean Energy Ventures.

“Today’s announcement is the next step in our succession planning process, as we develop our leadership team for the opportunities and challenges ahead,” Downes said in a prepared statement. “Steve’s leadership and contributions have been instrumental to the growth of our business.

“On behalf of the board of directors, I congratulate Steve and look forward to continuing our work together serving our customers, growing our business and supporting our talented employees.”

He had joined the company in 1990, and served as senior VP of New Jersey Energy Services from 2010 to 2016. He was promoted to SVP and COO of NJRES and NJCEV from 2016 to 2017, and was named EVP and COO of NJR in November 2017.