James J. McBrearty has been appointed by the Pennsylvania Power and Light Company to be the manager for business development for the Central Division.

McBrearty will still be in charge of the company’s area development and sales program for residential, commercial and industrial customers in the division’s 2,800 square mile area with headquarters in Hazleton.

He will succeed J.E. Sugden of Mountaintop who is retiring after 37 years of service with the firm.

McBrearty served as supervisor of industrial and commercial sales for the Central Division for the past eight years. He joined the company in 1937 after his graduation from Villanova University.