Gianna Manes named new Enmax CEO, president

ENMAX announced Thursday it appointed Gianna Manes the new president and CEO of the city-owned utility starting April 1.

She has more than 24 years experience in the energy industry — and was senior vice president and chief customer officer for Duke Energy.

Enmax says the board is confident their new CEO has the background, skills and leadership qualities to successfully pursue the company's vision.

Former CEO Gary Holden left the company in January 2011 following a CBC investigation that revealed he accepted a free trip to Monaco paid for by an Enmax supplier.

Holden made more than $2 million a year and had held company parties at his home, featuring rock stars such as Tom Cochrane and The Tragically Hip's Gordon Downie.

The former Enmax boss even made a Forbes Magazine's Top 10 list — for the fifth biggest CEO screw up of 2010.

The magazine chose "paranoid-sounding Holden" for his choice to send out a company-wide email criticizing media coverage of his pay package and private house parties.

• October 2010: A CBC investigation reveals Gary Holden’s compensation — among the highest paid heads of any publicly-owned company or government agency in Alberta — of $2.4 million in 2008, $2.7 million in 2009 and $2.9 million in 2010. It is also revealed Holden hosted company parties with rock stars (Tom Cochrane and The Tragically Hip’s Gordon Downie).
• November 2010: Holden emails a five-page memo to all Enmax employees defending his salary and the company parties at his house, and vows to hunt down the whistleblowers who alerted the media.
• December 2010: Forbes magazine lists Holden as one the of "biggest CEO screw-ups of 2010" for his email. Blue Rodeo is booked for the company Christmas party, but it's cancelled after Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi openly disapproves of the company money pegged for it.
• January 2011: Gary Holden announces his immediate departure as Enmax CEO after a trip to Monaco bought by an ENMAX supplier was made public.
• February 2011: Charles Ruigrok, already an Enmax board member, named interim CEO. Details on Holden's severance package emerges, shows Holden was terminated without cause and paid $5.4 million in combined severance and pension payments.
• May 2011: Mayor Nenshi says corporation going in a new direction, top salaries rolled back by 20 per cent.
• March 2012: Gianna Manes named the new CEO and president, effective April 1, 2012.