RICHMOND, Va., Jan. 25, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- In recognition of the importance of innovation at Dominion Energy (NYSE: D), the company today announced that Mark O. Webb, senior vice president-Corporate Affairs and chief innovation officer, will focus solely on his chief innovation officer role, effective Feb. 1, 2019, and continue to report to Thomas F. Farrell, II, chairman, president and chief executive officer. William L. Murray, vice president-State and Electric Public Policy, will become senior vice president-Corporate Affairs & Communications on February 1, reporting to Farrell.

"Late last year our board of directors approved a new core value – Embrace Change," Farrell said. "Part of this value is a commitment to increasing innovation in our industry, and I am pleased to have Mark focus his energies there. The company's external affairs, philanthropy and communications groups will continue to perform well under Bill's excellent stewardship."

Webb, who joined Dominion Energy in 1997 as assistant general counsel, is and will continue to be responsible for overseeing all efforts to foster innovation, creativity and development in the company's people, processes and strategy. In his more than 20-year career at Dominion Energy, he has served as general counsel, chief legal officer and chief risk officer. He also worked in policy and business evaluation in the Alternative Energy Solutions group. He was named vice president in 2013 and senior vice president in 2016. Webb became chief innovation officer in July 2018. He earned a bachelor's degree from Texas Christian University and a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law. Webb is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.

Murray will oversee Dominion Energy's federal, state and local government relations; corporate communications; advertising; public relations; creative services; philanthropy; and community affairs. He began working for Dominion Energy in 2007 after a long career in state and federal government and public policy. He came to the company as managing director-Corporate Public Policy. He was named senior policy director-Public Policy and Electric Policy in 2016 and was promoted to his current position as vice president-State and Electric Public Policy in May 2017. Murray received a bachelor's degree in history from the University of Virginia, a master's degree in public administration from Virginia Tech and a doctorate in public administration and public policy, also from Virginia Tech.

The company also announced that it has hired Gregory A. "Greg" Hitt as vice president-Corporate Communications. Hitt comes to Dominion Energy from Walmart Inc., where he has served as vice president-Global Corporate Communications since 2015. Between 2010 and 2015, he worked with Hill + Knowlton Strategies and Public Strategies Inc., providing communications counsel and strategy to a range of companies. Hitt also brings 25 years of experience as a reporter, including time with the Winston-Salem Journal, The Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones News Service. He received a bachelor's in journalism from the University of Missouri.

Hitt is expected to begin his role at the company on Feb. 18, 2019, and will report to Murray.

Nearly 7.5 million customers in 18 states energize their homes and businesses with electricity or natural gas from Dominion Energy (NYSE: D), headquartered in Richmond, Va. The company is committed to sustainable, reliable, affordable and safe energy and is one of the nation's largest producers and transporters of energy with about $100 billion of assets providing electric generation, transmission and distribution, as well as natural gas storage, transmission, distribution and import/export services. As one of the nation's leading solar operators, the company intends to reduce its carbon intensity 60 percent by 2030. Through its Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation, as well as EnergyShare and other programs, Dominion Energy contributed nearly $35 million in 2018 to community causes. Please visit www.DominionEnergy.com  to learn more.

SOURCE Dominion Energy