Columbia Gas Names New President In Massachusetts

ANDOVER, MA -- Steve Bryant said he will retire as president of Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, the utility blamed for the Merrimack Valley gas disaster. Bryant will step down on May 1, according to a press release from the utility's parent company, NiSource Inc. Mark Kempic will take over as president and chief operating officer when Bryant steps down.

"Steve dedicated his career to the important work of providing gas service to his home state of Massachusetts. We thank Steve for his many years of service and wish him all the best in retirement," Pablo Vegas, executive vice president and president of gas utilities at NiSource, said in a statement.

Bryant and other executives were criticized in the immediate aftermath of the Sept. 13 gas explosions which killed one and damaged or destroyed more than 130 buildings in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover. A day after the explosions, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker effectively fired NiSource and Columbia Gas and assigned EverSource to lead the recovery effort.

Thousands of residents were left without heat or hot water in the months following explosions, and the full recovery effort is expected to extend into 2020. A federal report blamed the explosions on inadequate oversight of a repair project in Lawrence that led to an over-pressurization of gas lines.

Kempic was named chief operating officer for Columbia Gas of Massachusetts last month. From September 2018 to January 2019 he was part of the leadership team for the Greater Lawrence area restoration efforts, NiSource said.

"Mark will continue to focus on working with our customers, state and local leaders, and community stakeholders as he leads our gas business in Massachusetts," Vargas said. "This includes the next phase of the recovery effort in the Greater Lawrence area and continuing to meet our customer and community needs across the state."

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Columbia Gas of Massachusetts President Steve Bryant (left) and NiSource Chief Executive Joe Hamrock. File photo by Dave Copeland/Patch.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).