Aris Candris, president and CEO of Westinghouse Electric Company is planning to retire effective 31 March 2012. Candris will be succeeded by Jim Ferland as president and CEO and Ricardo (Ric) Perez as president and chief operating officer from 1 April 2012.

Ferland currently serves as president, Americas Region for Westinghouse, and Mr. Perez currently serves as president, Operations. Both have extensive experience at Westinghouse.

Aris Candris began his Westinghouse career in 1975 and became president and CEO of the company in July 2008.

Westinghouse Board chairman Shigenori Shiga said Candris “helped keep the firm vibrant during the lean years of the 1980s and 1990s, and he very much laid the groundwork for the global nuclear energy renaissance we are experiencing today.”

Mr. Shiga also pointed out that Westinghouse revenues and operating profit increased at an average rate in excess of 20% per year during Candris’ tenure.

Candris, who will stay on as a senior advisor to Westinghouse, has had a 37-year career in the nuclear energy industry.

In announcing his retirement, Candris told employees the future of the nuclear industry remains ‘vibrant.’