Sempra Energy : Jessie Knight, EVP Of External Affairs, Plans To Retire Nov. 1

(RTTNews) - Sempra Energy (SRE) announced that Jessie J. Knight, Jr., executive vice president of external affairs for Sempra Energy and chairman of Southern California Gas Co. and San Diego Gas & Electric or SDG&E, plans to retire November 1.

Steven Davis, currently president and chief operating officer of SDG&E, has been elected to succeed Knight as executive vice president of external affairs and corporate strategy for Sempra Energy, effective September 26.

In his new role, Davis, 59, will report directly to Debra L. Reed, chairman and CEO of Sempra Energy, and oversee all of Sempra Energy's communications, government relations, regulatory and international affairs activities, as well as corporate social responsibility and long-term strategy review. Once Davis' new appointment is effective, Knight, 64, will continue on as a Sempra Energy executive vice president and chairman of the two California utilities until his retirement.

Davis has served as president and chief operating officer of SDG&E since January 2014. Previously, from 2012 to 2014, he was Sempra Energy's senior vice president of external affairs. Prior to that, he was Sempra Energy's vice president of investor relations and corporate communications and, from 2006 to 2010, Sempra Energy's vice president of communications and community partnerships.

Previously, Davis served as senior vice president of external relations and chief financial officer for SDG&E and SoCalGas from 2004 to 2006. Prior to that, he was senior vice president of customer service and external relations for SDG&E and SoCalGas and vice president of distribution operations for SDG&E.

Davis first joined SDG&E in 1980 as an associate accountant and then served in a series of increasingly responsible positions in accounting and regulatory, governmental, community and environmental affairs.