PPL Corporation announced that Dean A. Del Vecchio has been elected executive vice president and chief technology and innovation officer, a new position that reflects PPL’s strong focus on creating technology-enabled utilities of the future.

Del Vecchio will report directly to PPL President and Chief Executive Officer Vincent Sorgi.

“Today’s appointment of Dean comes at a pivotal time for our industry and the world,” said Sorgi. “The global energy landscape is shifting dramatically and demands a new kind of utility, one that drives and utilizes the latest advances in technology, automation, artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics to deliver the clean energy transition safely, reliably and affordably for our customers.

“Dean has extensive experience in bringing 100-year-old industries into the digital age while strengthening cybersecurity, improving operational efficiency and delivering better outcomes for stakeholders,” said Sorgi.

“He has achieved significant success in driving digital transformation for several iconic brands, and we are confident his deep insights and expertise will further energize our utility of the future strategy.”

“It’s not every day you’re able to contribute to a service that impacts everyone and is essential to our quality of life. I’m inspired by PPL’s vision and eager to roll up my sleeves and get to work in driving innovation that improves lives,” Del Vecchio said.

Prior to joining PPL, Del Vecchio served as executive vice president, chief information and operations officer for The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, where he was responsible for defining and implementing a strategic technology vision that aligned with the company’s long-term growth initiatives and business objectives.

Prior to joining Guardian, Del Vecchio was senior vice president, CIO, and Global Head of IT Shared Services at News Corp. and Dow Jones, where he was responsible for creating new and distinctive platforms for news and information delivery, as well as leading all application development and technology infrastructure.

In addition to the CIO role, Del Vecchio served as the company’s chief administrative officer, creating a vision and plan to improve administrative service, delivery and processes.

Del Vecchio is a member of the Amazon Web Services Financial Services Advisory Council, a founding member of the AI Pioneers Forum, a member of McKinsey’s Life Insurance and Retirement Technology Executive Roundtable, a member of Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society, and a governing body member of the CIO Executive Summit.

Del Vecchio earned his Master of Business Administration with honors from Villanova University and was the 2022 CIO of the Year winner in the Philadelphia Large Enterprise category.