Christopher Leitner is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Tenaska, one of the premier, private, independent energy companies in the U.S. Tenaska provides services and expertise in natural gas and electric power marketing, energy management, project development and construction, and the operations and management of power generation facilities. He is also a member of Tenaska’s Executive Leadership Board.
Prior to assuming his current role in 2022, Mr. Leitner served as President of Strategic Development and Acquisitions, where he drove strategic planning, business development and project origination across North America. Under his leadership, Tenaska developed approximately 16,400 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy projects and optimized power generation facilities throughout the U.S.
Earlier in his career at Tenaska, Mr. Leitner oversaw capital investment and the management of energy-related assets, leading the acquisition, optimization and divestiture of approximately 10,500 MW of power generation facilities on behalf of private equity funds managed by Tenaska Capital Management.
Before joining Tenaska in 2003, Mr. Leitner served as Director of Asset Investments at Aquila, Inc., focusing on transactions involving generation asset portfolios and related infrastructure. He previously worked at Koch Industries, Inc., as well.
Outside of Tenaska, Mr. Leitner serves on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of United Way of the Midlands and on the Board of Directors for Omaha Performing Arts. He also actively supports initiatives at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Business.
Mr. Leitner holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and a Master of Business Administration, with concentrations in Finance and Strategy, from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.