David Vahos leads PECO with energy for tomorrow

When David Vahos (MBA ’01) took over as president and CEO of PECO earlier this year, the moment carried both professional and personal significance.

PECO—the Philadelphia Electric Company—is the largest electric and natural gas utility in southeastern Pennsylvania, serving 1.7 million electric and half a million natural gas customers. For Vahos, who rose through the ranks of the Exelon family of utilities, the position reflects not only decades of steady leadership but also the foundational role of education and professional development in his journey.

Personally, becoming president and CEO of a big company like PECO felt rewarding and humbling to Vahos, who is a first-generation American. That identity, he said, shaped his outlook on what’s possible.

“Here I am, first-generation American—English wasn’t even a language I started to learn until I was six—and yet I’ve been able to do pretty well in my professional career and ultimately get a role like this one. I think it’s a great story about what the country offers and what we can do in our careers, regardless of how we start out.”

An early career grounded in numbers and growth

Vahos’ career began in Baltimore, where he joined Baltimore Gas and Electric in 1998 as an entry-level accountant. It was during those early years at BGE that Vahos decided to pursue his MBA at Johns Hopkins University. Balancing coursework, professional growth, and a young family wasn’t easy, but he saw it as the right time.

For Vahos, the MBA experience offered a critical bridge between his accounting background and the broader business and strategic perspective he would need as a leader. He credits Hopkins for helping him think more expansively about organizations, decision-making, and leadership, and he notes how Carey Business School’s regional network enriched his experience. 

“It really gave me the chance to connect to other people who work in the region, but who are in different industries,” he said. “So, as I’m going through these classes, I’m hearing other people use examples that weren’t necessarily my experience at either KPMG or Baltimore Gas and Electric.”

He sees that combination—of finance, strategy, and connection—as essential to his growth.\

Leading at a pivotal moment

In his new role at PECO, Vahos emphasizes both operational excellence and social responsibility.

“Safety, safety, safety is job one for us,” he said. “We distribute electricity and natural gas—those are foundational to modern life, but they are inherently dangerous. So, for us, priority number one is making sure our employees are safe, the community at large is safe.”

Beyond day-to-day safety, he’s guiding the company through a changing energy landscape.

“It’s a fascinating time to be in the industry,” he said. “We really haven’t had significant growth in energy consumption for decades. What’s very different now is the advent of some large load customers, like data centers, that can bring a significant amount of load in a very small footprint.”

Vahos views that growth as an opportunity for both economic development and community impact, and he encourages emerging business leaders to be adaptable if they hope to be part of the change.

“Core things that we’re going to be looking for are agility and collaboration,” he said. “If you aren’t nimble enough to be able to handle change and move with that change, you’re probably going to struggle.”

Vahos sees curiosity as another especially powerful tool for growth.

“Being curious helps a lot—or not being afraid to ask questions, always trying to learn,” he said. “I’m a finance and accounting guy who’s the CEO of an engineering organization, and half my company works out in the field. So, I’ve asked a lot of questions over my 30 years. I think that makes you a more effective leader and a more effective member of the team.”

Energy for tomorrow

As a first-generation American with a background in accounting who is now the head of a major U.S. regional engineering organization, Vahos is a lesson in dedication to achieving your dreams. He continues to view his role, and the responsibilities and opportunities that come with it, through both a professional and personal lens.

“Our job is to keep the lights on and the gas flowing safely, economically, and effectively,” he said. “But that’s not who we are. PECO is a group of men and women—3,000 strong—that really believe in having thriving communities. We have a long and proud history of being involved and committed to the communities that we're in.”