CMS Energy announced that John G. Russell has elected to retire from his position as the company's president and chief executive officer on July 1, 2016, and is expected to become the chairman of the CMS Energy and Consumers Energy boards of directors on May 6. He would succeed David W. Joos who has elected to retire after serving on the boards for 15 years, including six years as chairman. Patricia Kessler Poppe will succeed Russell as CMS Energy and Consumers Energy president and chief executive officer in July and is nominated to join the CMS Energy and Consumers Energy boards of directors in May. Russell has served since 2010 as CMS Energy president and chief executive officer, and president and chief executive officer of Consumers Energy.

Poppe, 47, is senior vice president of distribution operations, engineering and transmission for Consumers Energy, with overall responsibility for the company's electric and natural gas distribution systems, energy operations and electric transmission. Previously, she served as vice president of customer operations, rates and regulation and joined Consumers Energy in 2011. Before joining the company Poppe served in leadership roles with DTE Energy, including overseeing five electric generating facilities, and held a variety of plant management positions in the automotive industry.

Russell, 58, is retiring after serving for six years as president and CEO and a career spanning 34 years with CMS Energy. Russell's management team and company employees have delivered increasingly successful results in finance, operations and safety. In addition, the boards expect to elect William D. Harvey, former chairman and chief executive officer of Alliant Energy, as Presiding Director on May 6, 2016.