American Electric Power hires James Llende as VP Tax

James Llende will join American Electric Power as vice president, Tax, with responsibility for AEP ‘s federal, state and local tax compliance, tax audit, tax accounting and tax planning functions.

He will replace Mark Pyle, who will retire from the company on Jan. 28, 2018. Llende is currently senior tax director at NextEra Energy Inc. He will report to Joseph Buonaiuto, senior vice president, controller and chief accounting officer.

“James brings a wealth of demonstrated, strategic leadership on tax accounting and forecasting to AEP from NextEra. He was a director in PwC’s utility tax practice in Chicago and also served as tax director, in addition to other finance director roles, at Exelon. His extensive experience will be beneficial in helping us manage future tax reform,” Buonaiuto said.

“Mark has done an exceptional job leading our tax group for the last 15 years. We wish him and his family all the best in his retirement,” Buonaiuto said.

Llende has been in his current position at NextEra since June 2012 with responsibility for tax accounting, forecasting and other tax matters for NextEra and its business units. He was a tax director for PwC in Chicagofrom August 2010 to May 2012 providing tax, accounting, planning and compliance expertise for several electric utility companies. Llende held several director roles in the finance organization at Exelon Corp. between 2002 and 2010 including tax director, corporate finance director, and financial control and analysis director. He worked as a senior tax manager in PwC’s Tampa, Florida, office from 1997 to 2002.

Llende has bachelor of science and master of accountancy degrees from the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida.