Centrus Energy board names new president, CEO

Centrus Energy Corp. said on Thursday that Daniel Poneman has been selected to replace John Welch as president and CEO.

Poneman, the former U.S. deputy secretary of energy, will replace John Castellano, who has served as the company’s interim president and CEO since October 2014.


“We are delighted to have a leader with Dan’s experience and vision joining Centrus at this pivotal point for our company and the nuclear power industry,” Mikel Williams, chairman of the Centrus board of directors, said. “His exceptional experience across a range of energy and national security disciplines will be a significant asset to our company. Dan has the international experience to further develop Centrus’ business as dozens of new power reactors currently under construction around the world come online.”

Prior to last year, Poneman was the longest-serving deputy energy secretary, and also served as the agency’s chief operating officer. Poneman was responsible for a wide range of duties, including developing the president’s “all of the above” strategy to expand the nation’s energy potential in regard to nuclear, hydrocarbon and renewable energy sources, as well as the agency’s emergency-response unit.

“I appreciate the board’s confidence, and I’m honored to have the opportunity to lead Centrus. I am excited about working with the board and management team to rebuild Centrus as an industry leader that continues its record of delivering nuclear fuel on time and in spec to our utility customers,” Poneman said. “I believe American centrifuge technology can play a vital role in meeting America’s national security and nonproliferation goals, while preserving the option of commercial deployment when industry demand for nuclear fuel improves later this decade.”