CENTENNIAL, CO – Summit Utilities, Inc., (Summit), announces the promotion of a company veteran, Fred Kirkwood, to Chief Customer Officer (CCO).
Kirkwood has served as the Senior Vice President of Customer Development for Summit since March 2017. With more than 30 years of experience in the industry, Kirkwood began his career as a Customer Development Representative working with residential and commercial customers at Arkansas Oklahoma Gas Company (AOG) in 1986. He served in many roles throughout the company, including leading the development of AOG’s award winning energy efficiency programs and playing a critical role in the company’s development of a compressed natural gas (CNG) effort to reduce vehicle fuel emissions primarily in commercial fleets. He was instrumental in the addition of several CNG gas stations throughout the AOG service territory in Arkansas and Oklahoma. He is an active contributor to the River Valley building industry serving on the Board of the Greater Forth Smith Association of Homebuilders for the past 20 years.
In 2017, he seamlessly led AOG’s customer service team through its integration with Summit after the company acquired AOG. Post-acquisition, Kirkwood’s role was expanded to Senior Vice President of Customer Development for all of Summit’s operating companies. Since that time, he has been instrumental in modernizing the customer experience for all of Summit’s operating companies.
As CCO, Kirkwood will bring his three decades of experience to Summit’s senior leadership team. In his new role, Kirkwood will be the executive responsible for customer-centric strategies by influencing programs for all of Summit’s operating companies to enhance the customer experience.
“Fred is an outstanding leader who understands that people are always at the heart of what we do, whether it’s our customers, our communities or our team members,” said Kurt Adams, President and CEO of Summit. “His decades of experience, passion for our mission and perspective will strengthen our senior management team. This promotion reflects the confidence our Board of Directors and I have in his capabilities. I am undoubtedly excited about our future success.”
“It is an honor to be selected as the Chief Customer Officer at Summit. I look forward to bringing my experience to the role of Chief Customer Officer over the coming years,” said Fred Kirkwood. “I have been a part of the company’s growth over the last three decades, and I am looking forward to continuing to support our efforts to increase our investment in the customer experience while achieving our mission as a safe, reliable and affordable energy provider to families, businesses and industries throughout the communities we serve.”
About Summit
Summit Utilities, Inc. (Summit) owns natural gas distribution subsidiaries that operate in Arkansas, Colorado, Maine, Missouri and Oklahoma.