PJM Interconnection President and CEO Manu Asthana will step down at the end of 2025, the organization announced Monday. He will remain as a senior advisor to the PJM Board through June 2026.
Asthana, who has led the regional transmission organization since 2019, helped guide PJM through major industry changes, including the COVID-19 pandemic, market reforms, interconnection process overhauls, and a strengthened risk management framework. He was also an outspoken voice on grid reliability amid growing electricity demand.
“The PJM Board is grateful to Manu for his strong leadership during a time of tremendous change,” said Board Chair Mark Takahashi. “We have a strong executive team and are considering both internal and external candidates for the role.”
The board has formed a CEO search committee and hired Korn Ferry to lead the search process, with plans to conclude by year’s end.
Asthana said the decision was driven by a desire to return to Texas to be closer to family. “It’s been a privilege to lead PJM’s dedicated team and serve the 67 million people who rely on us,” he said.
New Jersey officials have grown increasingly frustrated with PJM’s operations, accusing the grid operator of prioritizing fossil fuel projects over renewable energy. State lawmakers and the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) say PJM’s policies have contributed to rising electricity costs.
PJM oversees the power grid across 13 states, including New Jersey, and Washington, D.C.
