James J. Piro served as the CEO of Portland General Electric from January 2009 until December 2017. With a long history in the utility industry, he began working with PGE back in 1980 in various financial roles. Piro was appointed...

James J. Piro served as the CEO of Portland General Electric from January 2009 until December 2017. With a long history in the utility industry, he began working with PGE back in 1980 in various financial roles. Piro was appointed CEO after Peggy Y. Fowler’s retirement, transitioning from CFO to lead the company. During his tenure, he focused on performance-driven strategies, emphasizing operational goals and customer satisfaction. In 2016, he earned a total compensation of $3.3 million, highlighting the performance metrics that drove his bonuses and stock awards. Notably, Piro received a significant bonus based on the company meeting its financial and operational targets. His leadership was rooted in aligning executive interests with the company’s performance, particularly through stock ownership requirements. After nearly four decades with PGE, he decided to retire, marking the end of an era for the company, and passing the reins to a new leader.