Barbara Romano Named SJI's First Female CIO

SJI, an energy infrastructure holding firm located in Folsom, has appointed Barbara Romano as its first female Chief Information Officer, setting new precedent. The news came on January 24, after Romano's term as Vice President of Technology and Operations. She will succeed Leonard Brinson Jr., who is slated to retire at the end of this month.

Romano, who joined SJI in 2015 as Director of the CIO Office, has continuously displayed a results-driven approach and active leadership, receiving accolades from SJI President and CEO Michael Renna. Romano's new job will include providing corporate-level strategic leadership and control for all technology and business information system activities at SJI and its subsidiaries.

She expressed her enthusiasm by saying, "My goal is not only to navigate the currents of information technology but to empower our teams, foster collaboration, and illuminate a brighter, more connected future for our company and the communities we serve."

Renna praised her predecessor, Leonard Brinson Jr., as a "IT legend" who played an important role in SJI's amazing development, particularly during the obstacles faced by the COVID-19 epidemic.

This historic appointment builds on SJI's commitment to diversity and inclusion, since Melissa Orsen was previously selected as the first female president of SJI Utilities in July 2021. SJI, which supplies natural gas to approximately 725,000 consumers in New Jersey, was purchased by Infrastructure Investments Fund for $8.1 billion in February 2023. Romano's elevation demonstrates a sustained commitment to identifying and fostering diverse leadership in the energy business.