Richard J. Mark
Richard joined Ameren in 2002 as Vice President of Customer Service. In 2003, he became Vice President of Governmental Policy and Consumer Affairs. In just two short years, he rose to the position of Senior Vice President of Ameren Missouri Energy Delivery - becoming the first African American to hold this position. Before his appointment as President of Ameren Illinois in 2012, Richard was Senior Vice President of Ameren Missouri Customer Operations with responsibility for electric and natural gas distribution.
In six years as the leader of Ameren Illinois, Richard has been instrumental in passing legislation and shaping regulatory policy that is transforming the energy sector in Illinois. He is currently leading a bold initiative that will expand access to energy efficiency programs and cost-saving saving tools for all customers, while paving the way for greater access to renewable energy. Under his direction, Ameren Illinois is undertaking a massive overhaul of the Illinois electric grid, installing smart technologies, improving reliability, and creating thousands of jobs in communities throughout central and southern Illinois.
Prior to joining Ameren, Richard served six years as president and chief executive officer of St. Mary’s Hospital in East St. Louis and five years as chief operating officer. He also led the East St. Louis District 189 Financial Oversight Panel.
Richard has received three honorary doctorate degrees for his civic and community work along with numerous awards and honors. Most recently, he received the Leadership Award from the Springfield NAACP, the Visionary Award from the Foundation Fighting Blindness, and was named one of the Most Powerful Executives in America by Black Enterprise Magazine. In 2017, Richard received the Heritage Award from the Illinois Legislative Sportsman Caucus. Other honors include Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce's Outstanding Corporate Leadership Award (2015),African-American Career World magazine's Top 10 national business leaders (2015), a Telly Award for Ameren’s Employee Communications video magazine (2015), and Who’s Who in Energy recognition by the St. Louis Business Journal (2015). He was named one of Savoy Magazine’s Top 100 Most Influential Blacks in Corporate America for 2016 & 2014.
Richard serves on a variety of boards and organizations including Tenet Healthcare, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation Board, Madison Mutual Insurance Board, Leadership Council of Southwestern Illinois, Saint Louis Zoo Association, Fontbonne University, the St. Louis Police Foundation and the St. Louis Regional Business Council.
