Idacorp, Inc. (Idacorp) and Idaho Power Company (Idaho Power) have announced the retirement of Thomas R. Saldin as senior vice president (SVP) and general counsel and the appointment of Rex Blackburn as SVP and general counsel, effective April 1, 2009. Previously, Saldin served as general counsel since 2004. Blackburn joined the company in January 2008. From 1980 through 2007, Blackburn served as a trial lawyer in private practice.
Blackburn has significant knowledge of the company and industry, as well as considerable experience in the courtroom as a trial lawyer to his role as an officer of the company.
Blackburn graduated from the College of Idaho and the University of California, Hastings College of the Law.
Blackburn is a fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, and was selected for inclusion in Mountain States Super Lawyers magazine. He was also appointed by Governor Cecil Andrus to the Idaho Commission on Uniform State Laws, and reappointed by Governors Phil Batt and Dirk Kempthorne, serving on the Commission continuously since 1993.
“In five years, Tom’s leadership transcended providing guidance and direction to the legal and compliance teams to encompass motivation and encouragement to management and employees across the company,” said Idacorp and Idaho Power’s chief executive officer and president LaMont Keen. “We wish him the best in retirement.”
“Strong leadership is required to ensure the company continues meeting the critical challenge of providing reliable, on-demand electric service to customers, especially during these challenging times, and Rex is a key member of our leadership team,” added Keen. “During his prior history representing and advising the company as well as this past year, Rex demonstrated judicious, yet collaborative and creative approaches to stewarding business results and our resource preservation.”