Executive Profiles

Benjamin G.S. Fowke, III

President and Chief Operating Officer

Benjamin (Ben) G.S. Fowke III is president and chief operating officer (COO) of Xcel Energy, with responsibility for overall corporate operations as well as Xcel Energy's four operating companies that do business in eight states. He also is a member of Xcel Energy's board of directors.

Before assuming his current responsibilities, Fowke held a variety of executive positions at the company, including vice president and chief financial officer (CFO) and vice president and CFO of Energy Markets, where he was responsible for the financial operations of the company's commodities trading and marketing business unit. Prior to the 2000 merger of Northern States Power Co. and New Century Energies (NCE) to form Xcel Energy, he was a vice president in the NCE Retail business unit.

Prior to Xcel Energy, Fowke served 10 years with FPL Group, Inc., where he held various management positions. He also has held positions outside the energy industry with DWG Corp. and KPMG.

He currently serves on the board of directors of the American Gas Association and the Minnesota Orchestra.  He also is a member of the board of advisors for the University of Colorado Denver Business School.

Fowke earned a Bachelor of Science degree in finance and accounting from Towson University, and obtained his CPA in 1982.