Raman Raj named Chief Operating Officer at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
February 5, 2008 – Los Angeles – Raman Raj has been named as Chief Operating Officer of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) and Chief of Staff to Chief Executive Officer and General Manager David Nahai. Raj had been the President of Resources Roundtable Consulting, and had previously served as Assistant General Manager and Chief Administrative Officer under former LADWP General Manager David Freeman. LADWP is the largest municipally-owned utility in the United States.
“Raman’s leadership qualities and his understanding of the LADWP make him the ideal chief operating officer,” said Nahai. “His experience will be instrumental as we continue to provide excellent service to our customers in the City of Los Angeles and we transform the LADWP into one of the cleanest and greenest utilities in the nation.”
In his role as COO of LADWP, Raj, will be responsible for the day to day operations of the Department and oversee the heads of the Water and Power systems, the Chief Administrative Officer, The Chief Information Officer, and the Chief Financial Officer. Also reporting to Raj will be the Budget, Rates, and Energy Efficiency Office, and the newly created Contract Administration Office.
“These are exciting times at LADWP, and I’m thrilled to be back to help implement the vision of David Nahai and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa,” said Raj. “The modernization plan we are implementing will take LADWP back to the front ranks among the nation’s utilities.”
During his first stint at LADWP, Raj oversaw information technology, labor relations, human resources, security, corporate assets management, and integrated support services.
Prior to that, he served as a managing director for the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority, where he helped manage the nation’s second largest transit agency. He also has significant private sector experience. In addition to his utilities focused consulting firm, Raj has held senior management positions at Kaiser Permanente (the nation’s largest HMO), Flying Tigers and the Southland Corporation.
