US power generation business XGS Energy has appointed Katherine Piper as chief legal officer as the company continues to build out its executive leadership team.
Piper was most recently general counsel at US power generation company Calpine before her departure earlier this year following its $26bn sale to Constellation Energy. At XGS Energy, she will be responsible for legal, corporate governance, compliance and risk management matters.
Houston-based XGS Energy is a geothermal energy developer, aimed at meeting surging energy demand from data centres, utilities and other industrial operators.
Martin Craighead, chairman of XGS, said: “Katherine’s one of the most talented leaders in the power industry. XGS is fortunate to have her business and legal expertise as we build our world-class team.”
Piper spent more than 14 years at Calpine across a number of legal roles, the latter four of them as GC. She initially joined in 2012 as senior counsel from Steptoe & Johnson, where she was of counsel.
Prior to that, she was an associate at Kirkland & Ellis, having started her legal career clerking in the US Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland.
She said: “XGS has the technology, infrastructure and know-how to meet the growing demand for reliable, clean power while protecting our water resources, and I am proud to join at such a pivotal moment in its journey. I look forward to working with this experienced team to enhance the company’s ability to commercialise and scale its power production platform.”
In other recent energy moves, back in September, oil and gas exploration company North American Blue Energy Partners hired Sara Chouraqui as GC from the UK’s Serious Fraud Office.
In August, US energy business Centuri Holdings hired former Berry president Danielle Hunter as chief legal and administrative officer, replacing Jason Wilcock in the role.
In June, oil giant Chevron lined up former Texas solicitor general Scott Keller as its next CLO, joining as GC before his expected succession of R. Hewitt Pate at the start of 2027.
And in May, German energy company Uniper said it was promoting Tina Hinz to GC, replacing Mark Merrill in the role at the start of June.
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