As managing director of Enterprise Innovation & Technology for American Electric Power (AEP), Chris Johnson works with the company’s business units and utility operating companies to seek out and assess new ventures that expand or enhance business opportunities for American Electric Power and its customers.

Johnson returned to AEP in 2020 after leading a global Amazon Web Services

Innovation Advisory team from Australia. His time at Amazon included helping multi-national corporations build innovation capabilities, launch new products, services, and ventures. He also founded the Amazon Rapid Open Innovation practice, which focused on partnering early-stage companies with enterprises to accelerate solutions into the market. From 2007 to 2019, Johnson held roles of increasing responsibility at AEP, including director of Enterprise Innovation & Technology.

Presently, in addition to leading Innovation and Technology focus, Chris represents AEP as the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) – Research Advisory Committee Member, Department of Energy US Driving Research and Innovation for Vehicle Efficiency and Energy Sustainability (USDRIVE) – Executive Steering Member and Free Electrons – Executive Steering Member.

Previously, he worked at Battelle Memorial Institute. Johnson holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental, safety and occupational health management from the University of Findlay.