HOUSTON, Texas, United States, April 2025 — JERA Americas, the U.S. subsidiary of global energy giant JERA, has announced the appointment of John O’Brien, Jr. as Senior Managing Executive Officer and Chief Executive Officer. O’Brien, who previously served as Chief Operating Officer, will now lead the company’s continued expansion and energy transition strategy across the United States.
As COO, O’Brien was responsible for overseeing Development, Engineering and Construction, as well as key administrative and functional areas, including Human Resources, Legal, Information Technology, Regulatory and Government Affairs, and Risk Management. His leadership focused on optimizing capabilities and driving organizational efficiency.
“I am honored to lead an exceptional team of energy professionals as we work to pursue JERA’s ambitious agenda in the U.S.,” said John O’Brien. “In the context of a rapidly changing global energy environment with unprecedented demand growth, JERA Americas has the ability to deliver the stable, affordable and sustainable power our country needs.”
Since joining JERA Americas in 2021, O’Brien played a pivotal role in forming and leading the company’s Regulatory and Government Affairs function. His previous executive leadership experience includes roles at National Grid, Exelon, NRG, and Vistra/TXU predecessor Energy Future Holdings. He also served as President, Natural Gas Distribution and Electric Power for AltaGas U.S., overseeing rates, operations, and billing for five natural gas utilities.
Steven Winn, Senior Managing Executive Officer and Chief Global Strategist for JERA, and Chairman of the JERA Americas Board of Directors, stated:
“JERA Americas is a key part of JERA’s global expansion strategy and fulfilling our mission to solve the world’s energy challenges. John’s entrepreneurial leadership, industry knowledge, and creative thinking are critical to our growth, impact, and success.”
O’Brien is a graduate of Brown University with a degree in International Relations, and holds a Juris Doctor from Suffolk University Law School. He was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in 1985 and previously served as a Massachusetts State Senator from 1993 to 1998, where he chaired the Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy, and authored the Electric Utility Restructuring Act of 1997.
JERA Americas
JERA Americas is leading the U.S. energy transition in an environmentally and socially responsible manner. A subsidiary of Tokyo-based JERA (Japan’s Energy for a New Era), the company supports global decarbonization and sustainable energy efforts. JERA currently produces approximately 30% of all electricity in Japan.
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