Natural Resources >> CEO Interviews >> June 11, 2001

Clark Smith – El Paso Energy Corp. (epg)

CLARK C. SMITH is President of El Paso Merchant Energy North America, a business unit of El Paso Energy Corporation. Before assuming his current position, Mr. Smith was President and CEO of Engage Energy, Inc., a natural gas and power services joint venture of Coastal and Westcoast Energy Inc. of Vancouver, British Columbia. He became President and CEO of Engage when the company was formed in 1997. Prior to his position at Engage Energy, Mr. Smith was President and CEO of Coastal Gas Marketing Company and later assumed responsibility for the formation of Coastal Gas Marketing Canada and Coastal Electric Services Company. He also worked at Enron Corp. as Director of Marketing for Transwestern Pipeline Company and later became Executive Vice President of Transwestern's marketing, gas supply, and state regulatory affairs. Mr. Smith began his business career in 1978 with El Paso Natural Gas Company, where he held various positions involving regulatory affairs, systems development, and gas accounting. In 1984, he represented El Paso Natural Gas in the Natural Gas Clearinghouse. Mr. Smith serves on the Boards of Directors of Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas and the San Jacinto Girl Scouts. He earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin. Profile
TWST: Could we begin with a brief historical sketch of El Paso's

merchant energy business, and then a profile of the company as it is

now?

Mr. Smith: In 1996 El Paso acquired Tenneco's energy