Great Plains Energy announces Scott Grimes to the Board of Directors

– USA, MO – Great Plains Energy (NYSE: GXP) and Kansas City Power & Light Company (KCP&L) announced three leadership appointments today.

Scott D. Grimes, CEO and founder of Cardlytics, an Atlanta-based advertising and technology company that has pioneered card-linked marketing, was appointed to the board of directors of Great Plains Energy, effective August 15, 2014.

“We are very pleased to welcome Scott to our board of directors,” said Terry Bassham, chairman and CEO. “The insights we’ll gain from his unique blend of strategic and consumer-based technology experience will be an invaluable benefit to our company.”

Prior to founding Cardlytics in 2008, Grimes held a number of positions that have integrated technology and finance, including serving as senior vice president and general manager of payments, and vice president of strategy, for Capitol One Financial Corporation; principal, Canaan Partners; senior vice president of corporate development, Freemarkets Inc. (now Ariba); senior vice president, Paging Network Inc.; and principal with McKinsey & Company. He also held executive, managerial and technical positions with Schlumberger Limited.

“I am honored to be invited to join the board of directors,” Grimes said. “I believe my experience designing successful consumer processes and driving customer engagement will benefit Great Plains Energy as the leadership team continues to position the company for growth in today’s economic and technology-driven environment.”

Grimes earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Union College in Schenectady, N.Y., and a Master of Business Administration degree from Stanford University in California.

In addition, the board made two changes to the Great Plains Energy and KCP&L leadership team. Lori A. Wright was named vice president – investor relations and treasurer, and Steven P. Busser was hired as vice president – business planning and controller. Both changes become effective Sept. 1, 2014.

“The change in Lori’s role and the addition of Steve are essential as we position ourselves to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing business environment,” said Bassham. “Lori’s solid grasp of finance, accounting, the industry and our company makes her an indispensable member of our leadership team and well prepared to lead our investor relations team. We also welcome Steve to the team. He has a broad background in utility finance, coupled with extensive knowledge of enterprise risk management, regulatory and support services.”

Since joining the companies in 2001, Wright has held several positions, including her most recent position as vice president – business planning and controller.

She began her career with Continental National Bank of Illinois in Chicago. In 1986, she joined the utility industry while at Iowa Electric Light & Power Company, and then held several accounting positions at Central & South West, a utility holding company. Following Central & South West’s merger with American Electric Power, Wright was appointed director of accounting and reporting at the new company.

Wright has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a major in accounting and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Iowa. Wright is a certified public accountant. She has served on the boards for the Kansas City Chapter of the American Red Cross and Harvester’s food bank.

Wright replaces Kevin Bryant, who in May 2014 was named vice president of strategic planning and president of KLT, a subsidiary of Great Plains Energy.

Most recently, Busser served as vice president – treasurer of El Paso Electric Co. in Texas. Additional positions held since joining that company in 2002 included assistant chief financial officer, vice president – regulatory affairs and chief risk officer. Prior to joining El Paso Electric, he was vice president – international controller for Affiliated Computer Services and National Processing Company. He also held several positions, including manager – assurance, with KPMG LLP.

A U.S. Army veteran and certified public accountant, Busser has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in accounting from the University of Texas at El Paso. He recently served on the boards of the United Way of El Paso County, the El Paso Catholic Diocese Foundation and the Leadership Curriculum Committee of the El Paso Chamber of Commerce.

About Great Plains Energy Incorporated

Headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., Great Plains Energy Incorporated is the holding company of Kansas City Power & Light Company (KCP&L) and KCP&L Greater Missouri Operations Company, two of the leading regulated providers of electricity in the Midwest. KCP&L and KCP&L Greater Missouri Operations Company use KCP&L as a brand name.

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