COLUMBUS, Ohio, Aug. 26, 2003 - American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) has named Mano K. Nazar senior vice president and chief nuclear officer, effective Oct. 1, 2003.

Nazar will join AEP from the Nuclear Management Co. where he was senior vice president - nuclear operations responsible for Westinghouse reactor sites. Prior to joining the Nuclear Management Co., Nazar was with Duke Power Co. and held responsible management positions at the McGuire and Oconee nuclear stations from 1981 until 2001, including the position of plant manager at the three-unit Oconee nuclear station.

In his position at AEP, Nazar will be responsible for oversight of AEP´s D.C. Cook Nuclear Plant in Bridgman, Mich., and AEP´s 25-percent ownership of the South Texas Project Electric Generating Station in Bay City, Texas. He will report to Bob Powers, AEP executive vice president - generation.

“Mano has more than 20 years of nuclear experience and has established a track record as a hands-on leader who can achieve excellence from the people, processes and equipment at a nuclear plant,” Powers said.

Nazar holds a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He replaces A. Christopher "Chris" Bakken III, who left AEP Aug. 12 to return to PSEG Power.

American Electric Power owns and operates more than 42,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the United States and select international markets and is the largest electricity generator in the U.S. AEP is also one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, with almost 5 million customers linked to AEP’s 11-state electricity transmission and distribution grid. The company is based in Columbus, Ohio.