Propane Personality: Hugh Gallagher

Hugh Gallagher
President/CEO, AmeriGas

Education

Drexel University (Pennsylvania)
Bachelor of Science in accounting
Class of 1986

Work Experience

1990
UGI Corp.
Various finance and accounting roles

1995-2007
AmeriGas
Team Leader – Financial Reporting
Manager of Financial Reporting
Financial Manager – Operations
Director of Financial Planning and Analysis
Director – Business Development

2007-11
UGI Corp.
Director – Treasury Services
Director – Treasury Services and Investor Relations

2011-14
AmeriGas and UGI Corp.
Treasurer

2013-present
AmeriGas
Vice President – Finance and CFO
President and CEO
Director

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What were your goals when you took over as CEO of AmeriGas last year?

“One of the things I have focused on is connecting and communicating with our employees. We are fortunate to say we have one of the most hard-working, dedicated teams in the industry. They deliver outstanding service every day as we seek to provide an unmatched customer experience in the communities we serve. Operating safely is at the core of everything we do, but in addition to that, we will certainly invest to enhance our customer experience and build on our success in growing segments of our business. We remain focused on providing value and benefit to all of our key stakeholders – our communities, customers, employees and investors.”

Two milestones

“AmeriGas is celebrating a milestone in our company’s history: our 60th anniversary. This milestone would never have been achieved without the significant contributions of our employees and their commitment to safety, reliability and customer responsiveness through the years.”

“Next year will mark my 30th anniversary with UGI and AmeriGas. I feel very fortunate to have spent so much time with one organization, yet to have also had the opportunity to do so many different things. In 30 years, the longest I was in any one position was my five-and-a-half years as AmeriGas CFO.”

What is the best piece of advice you’ve received?

“The road to growth is paved with many more ‘oh no’ experiences than it is with ‘oh joy’ experiences.”

What trends or key issues are you seeing in the propane industry?

“I would echo what others have been saying for some time. As an industry, we continue to see structural decline in volumes resulting from more efficient appliances and better insulation in residential applications. Propane is an incredibly versatile fuel, so we see opportunities in areas like outdoor living and propane as an engine fuel. Similar to many utility-like industries, the aging of the workforce will likely remain a challenge as we seek to replace retiring baby boomers.”

The propane industry

“Like many of my colleagues in the industry, I find it incredibly rewarding to see how the work we do fills such a fundamental need in the lives of our customers and in the communities we serve. I look forward to AmeriGas continuing that work for decades to come.”

Hobbies

“I like to read, hike, ride my bike and lift weights. I am also a big sports fan and enjoy spending summers at the beach with my family.”

*Featured photo courtesy of Ed Richesson