ST. LOUIS, April 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The board of directors of Ameren Corporation today elected Karen Foss as senior vice president, Communications and Brand Management. She will report to Thomas R. Voss, who assumes the title of chief executive officer and president of Ameren Corporation on May 1.
Foss joined AmerenUE, the corporation's Missouri utility, in February 2007 as vice president, Public Relations. In her new position, she will be a member of the corporate executive leadership team and will be responsible for Ameren corporate- level communications and for managing the corporate image and brand in cooperation with business segment communications teams. Corporate level external and internal communications teams will report to Foss, as will the director of Diversity and her team.
Foss is a nationally recognized former newscaster who spent more than 25 years as anchor of KSDK-TV in St. Louis.
"Karen Foss is a natural leader and a highly experienced communicator who brings to this position a new focus on branding and strategic corporate communications," says Voss.
Foss adds, "I am honored to be asked to take on these additional responsibilities for Ameren Corporation, and I look forward to this expanded role. The more than two years I have spent at UE have instilled in me a deep respect for this company and the people who work here. I look forward to continuing to be part of the team that serves the customers of Ameren everyday."
The six-time Emmy award winner was in 2005 inducted into the Silver Circle by the National Academy of Television, Arts and Sciences for her 25 years of journalistic excellence. Foss is equally well known for her community contributions.
Foss has also actively supported a range of organizations from The Salvation Army to Paraquad -- a non-profit dedicated to helping the disabled establish homes and jobs to become more independent.
In 1983, Foss received the "Paraquad Service Award." She also was the first recipient of the St. Louis Ambassadors' "Spirit of St. Louis" award in 1985. The St. Louis Suburban Journals named her "Woman of Achievement" in 1989. Also in 1989, the YMCA honored Foss with the "Special Leadership Award" for her long-standing volunteer commitment to improving the lives of the disabled and youth in St. Louis. In 1992, the St. Louis Chapter of the NAACP honored Foss when she became the first television reporter to receive the "Roy Wilkins Freedom Award." She holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, her hometown.
With assets of approximately $23 billion, Ameren serves 2.4 million electric customers and one million natural gas customers in a 64,000-square-mile area of Missouri and Illinois.
SOURCE: Ameren Corporation
Web site: http://www.ameren.com/