# Gale Klappa

> Gale E. Klappa is chairman emeritus of WEC Energy Group, a former utility CEO whose career connects energy infrastructure, Milwaukee economic development, university service and basketball. He joined Wisconsin Energy in 2003, led it through the 2015 Integrys acquisition and retired from WEC’s board in May 2026. A UWM mass communications graduate and former radio newscaster, he has also hosted a Bucks radio program and co-chaired Milwaukee 7.

- **Role:** Chairman Emeritus at WEC Energy Group
- **Organizations:** WEC Energy Group, Wisconsin Energy Corporation, We Energies, Southern Company, Georgia Power Company, South Western Electricity, Milwaukee 7, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee Bucks, Associated Banc-Corp
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** BA in mass communications, cum laude, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Honorary Doctor of Commercial Science, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
- **Known for:** Led the 2015 Integrys acquisition that formed WEC Energy Group., First recipient of WEC Energy Group’s honorary chairman emeritus title, May 2026., Inducted into the Wisconsin Business Hall of Fame in 2023.

## Career timeline

- **1972** — Graduated cum laude from UWM with a bachelor’s degree in mass communications.
- **Before 2003** — Held marketing, strategy and finance leadership roles at Southern Company, including CEO of South Western Electricity in the United Kingdom and executive vice president, CFO and treasurer of Southern Company.
- **2003** — Joined Wisconsin Energy as president in April; elected to its board in December.
- **2004** — Became chairman and CEO of Wisconsin Energy and We Energies in May.
- **2014** — Joined the Milwaukee Bucks ownership group as a minority investor.
- **2015** — Led Wisconsin Energy through its June 29 acquisition of Integrys, forming WEC Energy Group.
- **2016** — Retired as CEO in May and continued as non-executive chairman.
- **2017** — Resumed the chairman and CEO roles in October.
- **2018** — Began hosting a weekly Bucks radio show on WTMJ.
- **2019** — Became executive chairman in February.
- **2024** — Became non-executive chairman in May.
- **2026** — Retired from WEC’s board on May 7 and became its first chairman emeritus.

## Achievements

- Led the 2015 Integrys acquisition that formed WEC Energy Group.
- First recipient of WEC Energy Group’s honorary chairman emeritus title, May 2026.
- Inducted into the Wisconsin Business Hall of Fame in 2023.
- Received UWM’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024.
- Received a lifetime achievement award from the National Association of Minority Contractors-Wisconsin in 2024.
- Honored with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee MVP Award in 2025, as listed on his LinkedIn profile.
- The Judith H. and Gale E. Klappa Endowed Professorship of Marketing was established at UWM in 2016 through corporate foundation gifts.

## Latest updates

- **2026-10** — Interviewed as WEC chairman emeritus about data-center electricity demand, generation options, transmission constraints and customer cost allocation.
- **2026-05** — Retired from WEC’s board on May 7; Scott Lauber became chairman and Klappa received the honorary chairman emeritus title.
- **2025-12** — Listed as speaker in UWM’s December commencement program.

## Links

- Website: https://www.wecenergygroup.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gale-klappa-3579a020

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/gale-klappa
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-21