Tony Earley Jr.

Definition of 'Tony Earley Jr.'

The chairman and CEO of Detroit-based energy company DTE Energy since 1998. He joined the company in 1994 as president and COO. DTE Energy provides residential and commercial gas and electric service to its customers in Michigan, and has holdings nationwide in biomass energy, coal services, energy trading, pipelines and other energy-related services.

Early Jr. helped diversify DTE's lines of business and led the company through the three-day blackout that affected seven northeastern U.S. states, including Michigan in 2003.

Investopedia explains 'Tony Earley Jr.'

Born in 1949 in New York State, Earley Jr. earned his bachelor of science in physics, master of science in engineering and law degree all from the University of Notre Dame. He began his career in with the environmental and energy group of law firm Hunton & Williams in 1979, then joined Long Island Lighting Co. as general counsel in 1985, where he rose to president and CEO in 1989. In his role as vice-chairman of the utility trade group Edison Electric Institute, Earley Jr. contributes to national energy, environment and climate-change policies.