Torrence Hinton

President – Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas

Torrence Hinton was named president — Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas in June 2022.

In this role, Hinton oversees the daily operations, strategy and administrative activities of the two Illinois utilities, which together provide safe, reliable natural gas service to nearly 1 million customers in the city of Chicago and 54 communities in its northern suburbs.

Hinton formerly was vice president — operations at Peoples Gas. His responsibilities included ensuring public and employee safety, regulatory compliance, operational excellence, financial performance and top-tier customer service.

Before that, Hinton was director — gas storage, overseeing natural gas storage assets for WEC Energy Group. His responsibilities included the development and implementation of consistent and sustainable operational strategies and business plans related to the natural gas storage assets across all of WEC Energy Group’s natural gas utilities.

Hinton also served as director — operations and maintenance at Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas, with overall responsibility for the development and implementation of operational strategies and business plans related to the operation, maintenance and inspection of natural gas facilities for both companies.

Hinton joined Peoples Gas in 1999. Before being named to the company’s top leadership, he served in a number of roles with increasing responsibility, including manager — centralized planning group, director — fleet services, operations manager — North Shore Gas, operations manager — Peoples Gas, and general manager — North District at Peoples Gas.

Hinton holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology, where he received the Clinton E. Stryker Distinguished Service Award for his leadership and contributions in the area of campus life. He also holds a Master of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a Master in Business Administration with a concentration in strategy and leadership from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Hinton is active in numerous communities, educational and industry organizations, serving on the boards of Chicago Commons, Chicago United, Chicago Urban League, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, Illinois Utilities Business Diversity Council, Navy Pier, United Way of Metro Chicago (vice chair) and World Business Chicago. He is an active member of the Commercial Club of Chicago and its Civic Committee, The Economic Club of Chicago and Youth Guidance’s BAM Advisory Council. He is also a Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow, class of 2013; 2014 recipient of the Chicago Defender’s Men of Excellence award; 2021 participant of McKinsey Academy’s Black Executive Leadership Program; and 2023 recipient of Chicago United’s Business Leaders of Color award and Ada S. McKinley Community Services’ Legacy award.