Robert A. Richard

Robert A. Richard is the executive vice president of IT, Customer Service and Corporate Services for DTE Energy. Richard is responsible for overseeing the Customer Service organization, the development of enterprise standards and technology architecture and the strategic management of the company’s procurement, supplier performance management, warehousing, fleet, facilities and real estate organizations.

Richard has been with DTE Energy since 2003. Prior to his current role, Richard was senior vice president of Major Enterprise Projects and Customer Service where he was responsible for overseeing the Customer Service organization, along with the company’s major projects in Power Generation, Distribution, Renewable, Gas Distribution and Midstream platforms.

Prior to joining DTE Energy, Richard was vice president of operations and process improvement at Bethlehem Steel. This role was responsible for sales, marketing and operations of the eastern division. Previously, he spent 13 years at General Electric where he served in a variety of leadership roles. Richard was senior executive for GE LEXAN Americas Manufacturing and responsible for Phenolics, BPA, SAN, Chlorine and Polycarbonate extrusion.

Richard earned a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Chemical Engineering from The Ohio State University. At Ohio State, his graduate work was in coal technologies, which included liquefaction, gasification and the microbial desulfurization of coal. Richard is a graduate of the Nuclear Reactor Technology course of MIT and he is a certified Master Black Belt from GE and the Six Sigma Academy. He received the Whitney Award for technical achievement at GE. Richard is a member of the Engineering Advisory Boards for Central Michigan University and Oakland University.

Richard is a member of the board of directors of the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS). He is the Vice President of board of directors for the Engineering Society of Detroit (ESD). Richard is a lifetime member of the National Eagle Scout Association.