SPOKANE, Wash., Nov. 22, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Avista Corp. (NYSE:AVA) today announced changes in its officer team and the appointment of a new director. These changes have been approved by the Board of Directors and will take effect Jan. 1, 2018.

Dennis Vermillion has been named President of Avista Corp. As president, Vermillion will retain his current duties while expanding his role and the impact he will have on the Company into the future. He has served as senior vice president of Avista Corp. and president of Avista Utilities since 2009. He also serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors for Avista Corp. subsidiary Alaska Electric Light and Power Company. In addition, Vermillion has been appointed as a director to the Avista Corp. board. Scott Morris will continue as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Avista Corp.

Kevin Christie, currently Vice President, Customer Solutions has been named Vice President, External Affairs and Chief Customer Officer. This change highlights Avista’s continued emphasis on serving customers and more closely aligns with the activities within Christie’s areas, including the rates and regulatory responsibilities previously overseen by Kelly Norwood, until his retirement earlier this month.

Joining the officer team as Vice President, Safety and HR Shared Services, is Bryan Cox. In this role, Cox will continue to heighten the focus on and commitment to safety throughout Avista and will lead safety strategy in addition to leading other HR functions.  In this new role, he will report to Senior Vice President and Chief HR Officer, Karen Feltes, who will continue to lead HR and labor strategy in her current role.

Cox joined Avista in 1997, and most recently, served as Senior Director of HR Operations. He has held positions as Director of Transmission Operations, Director of Operations West, Director of Strategic Planning and Director of Gas Delivery.

“We are pleased to move Dennis and Bryan into these new roles and further align our leadership with the strategic needs and focus of the organization moving forward,” said Avista Corp. Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Scott Morris. “These are positive changes that leverage the strengths of our leaders and ensure we are well-positioned for the future. Dennis, Kevin and Bryan have deep leadership experience and a demonstrated commitment to Avista and those we serve that will continue to provide value for the Company and all of our stakeholders.”

About Avista
Avista Corp. is an energy company involved in the production, transmission and distribution of energy as well as other energy-related businesses. Avista Utilities is the operating division that provides electric service to 379,000 customers and natural gas to 343,000 customers. Its service territory covers 30,000 square miles in eastern Washington, northern Idaho and parts of southern and eastern Oregon, with a population of 1.6 million. Alaska Energy and Resources Company is an Avista subsidiary that provides retail electric service in the city and borough of Juneau, Alaska, through its subsidiary Alaska Electric Light and Power Company. Avista stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "AVA."  For more information about Avista, please visit www.myavista.com.

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