Joi Harris, a DTE Energy official who has been with the company since she was a recent high school graduate, will become president and CEO of the Detroit-based company effective Sept. 8.
The DTE Energy Board of Directors unanimously elected Harris to the post and as a member of the Board of Directors. She will replace Jerry Norcia who will take on the role of executive chairman.
“This announcement culminates a multi-year succession plan and illustrates our confidence in Joi’s ability to lead DTE with focus, clarity and vision,” says Mark Murray, lead independent director of the DTE Board. “We thank Jerry for putting so much of his heart and soul into leading the company to new levels of performance for all of our stakeholders, and we look forward to supporting Joi as she builds on that progress.”
Norcia echoed his support of the Board’s decision. “Joi Harris is a respected, strategic thinker known for driving results with focus and precision. Over her 34 years at DTE, she has delivered a proven track record of operational excellence. She brings clear-eyed judgment, purpose-driven leadership and an unwavering commitment to what matters most to our customers, employees, investors and communities.”
In her tenure at DTE, which began as a high school engineering co-op and continued in 1991 as a full-time employee, Harris has delivered measurable results for our customers, modernized critical infrastructure and inspired high-performing teams to rise to the challenges of an evolving energy landscape.
In her most recent role as DTE Energy president and COO, Harris led DTE’s electric and gas utilities along with Customer Service, Information Technology, Safety and other essential organizations. She was a key architect of the company’s increased investment in its electric grid, which resulted in a year-over-year 70 percent improvement in electric reliability in 2024.
Through the years, Harris served in various roles across the company – in distribution field operations, system control and transmission operations. She went on to lead the construction of the company’s renewable energy projects and the Blue Water Energy combined cycle gas plant, positioning the company for long-term, sustainable energy production. She also served as the DTE Gas president and COO.
“I am honored to take on this role at such a pivotal moment for our company and industry. We are in a time of transformation, and I’m committed to executing our strategy with urgency – modernizing infrastructure, delivering for our customers, and building the energy systems that will power future generations,” says Harris. “I’m grateful for Jerry’s mentorship and proud to build on the foundation he helped to create.”
Norcia joined DTE in 2002 and held leadership roles throughout the company before being promoted to president and COO in 2017, CEO in 2019 and board chairman in 2022.
As executive chairman, Norcia will serve as an advisor to Harris. He also will continue his leadership in Michigan communities by serving on the boards of Henry Ford Health, Business Leaders for Michigan and the Detroit Regional Partnership.
