CMS Energy CEO and leadership

Rochow, who has more than 20 years of industry experience, has been with CMS Energy for 17 years. He was appointed to President, CEO and a member of the board of directors in December, 2020 after serving as EVP, Operations since 2016.

Prior to this role, Rochow served in a variety of leadership positions across the business as Consumers Energy’s senior vice president of distribution and customer operations; vice president of customer experience, rates and regulation; and quality and chief customer officer after serving as vice president of energy delivery. He also works closely with the Michigan Public Service Commission, state and federal legislators and is on the board of directors of The Right Place in Grand Rapids.

Rochow graduated from Michigan Technological University with a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering and earned a master’s degree in business administration from Western Michigan University. He also attended an executive education program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Wisconsin School of Business.

Rochow also serves on the board for the West Michigan Center for Arts and Technology.

Rejji P. Hayes is executive vice president and chief financial officer of CMS Energy and its principal subsidiary, Consumers Energy. He was named to this position in 2017. Hayes is responsible for treasury, tax, investor relations, accounting, financial planning, internal controls and compliance and mergers and acquisitions. Hayes also has oversight of EnerBank USA®, a CMS subsidiary and nationwide provider of consumer loans. Hayes joined CMS Energy from Novi, Mich.-based ITC Holdings Corp., where he began his tenure as vice president, finance and treasurer in 2012 before serving as chief financial officer from 2014 to 2016. In his role as ITC’s chief financial officer, Hayes was responsible for the company’s accounting, tax, mergers and acquisitions, internal audit, investor relations, treasury, financial planning and analysis, management reporting and risk management functions. He co-led the strategic review that resulted in the sale of ITC – which was then a publicly traded company – to Fortis, Inc., a leading North American utility holding company. Under Hayes’ tenure as CFO, ITC’s market capitalization increased from approximately $4.7 billion to $7 billion. Prior to joining ITC Holdings Corp., Hayes held strategy and financial leadership roles for Exelon Corporation, Lazard Freres & Co., Banc of America Securities and Merrill Lynch. Hayes earned a bachelor’s degree from Amherst College and a master’s degree in business administration from Harvard Business School. Hayes also serves on the board of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, as a trustee for the Cranbrook Educational Community and as vice chairman of the board of the Cranbrook Institute of Science.

Brian Rich is Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer of CMS Energy and its principal subsidiary, Consumers Energy. He was named to this position in 2019.

Rich is responsible for the company’s overall customer experience and satisfaction, and for customer programs such as energy efficiency, renewables and economic development. He also oversees customer operations, digital and IT and security.

Rich last served as Senior Vice President of Customer Experience, Technology and Chief Information Officer (CIO). He was responsible for the company’s technology strategy, security and IT operations.

Rich joined CMS Energy as CIO in 2014 to advance the company’s strategic goals with resilient integrated information technologies.

Rich is an energy industry veteran with more than 20 years of experience, including more than 14 years at Accenture and four years as a vice president at San Francisco-based Pacific Gas and Electric Co.

Rich holds a bachelor’s degree in management information systems from The George Washington University, and completed an executive management program in cyber security policy at Harvard College in 2015.

Melissa M. Gleespen is vice president, corporate secretary and chief compliance officer for CMS Energy and its principal subsidiary, Consumers Energy. She is responsible for managing CMS Energy and Consumers Energy corporate secretary activities, as well as its investor services, securities law matters, and corporate records department. She was elected vice president and corporate secretary for CMS Energy and Consumers Energy in 2013. As chief compliance officer, Gleespen has oversight of regulatory, Code of Conduct and corporate policy compliance. Gleespen joined the company in 2013 as supervisory assistant general counsel. She has an extensive background in corporate governance, disclosure regulations, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission reporting and compliance. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Harvard University Extension School and her law degree from Northeastern University School of Law.

Rochow, who has more than 20 years of industry experience, has been with CMS Energy for 17 years. He was appointed to President, CEO and a member of the board of directors in December, 2020 after serving as EVP, Operations since 2016.

Prior to this role, Rochow served in a variety of leadership positions across the business as Consumers Energy’s senior vice president of distribution and customer operations; vice president of customer experience, rates and regulation; and quality and chief customer officer after serving as vice president of energy delivery. He also works closely with the Michigan Public Service Commission, state and federal legislators and is on the board of directors of The Right Place in Grand Rapids.

Rochow graduated from Michigan Technological University with a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering and earned a master’s degree in business administration from Western Michigan University. He also attended an executive education program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Wisconsin School of Business.

Rochow also serves on the board for the West Michigan Center for Arts and Technology.

Rejji P. Hayes is executive vice president and chief financial officer of CMS Energy and its principal subsidiary, Consumers Energy. He was named to this position in 2017. Hayes is responsible for treasury, tax, investor relations, accounting, financial planning, internal controls and compliance and mergers and acquisitions. Hayes also has oversight of EnerBank USA®, a CMS subsidiary and nationwide provider of consumer loans. Hayes joined CMS Energy from Novi, Mich.-based ITC Holdings Corp., where he began his tenure as vice president, finance and treasurer in 2012 before serving as chief financial officer from 2014 to 2016. In his role as ITC’s chief financial officer, Hayes was responsible for the company’s accounting, tax, mergers and acquisitions, internal audit, investor relations, treasury, financial planning and analysis, management reporting and risk management functions. He co-led the strategic review that resulted in the sale of ITC – which was then a publicly traded company – to Fortis, Inc., a leading North American utility holding company. Under Hayes’ tenure as CFO, ITC’s market capitalization increased from approximately $4.7 billion to $7 billion. Prior to joining ITC Holdings Corp., Hayes held strategy and financial leadership roles for Exelon Corporation, Lazard Freres & Co., Banc of America Securities and Merrill Lynch. Hayes earned a bachelor’s degree from Amherst College and a master’s degree in business administration from Harvard Business School. Hayes also serves on the board of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, as a trustee for the Cranbrook Educational Community and as vice chairman of the board of the Cranbrook Institute of Science.