Oliver G. "Rick" Richard III, former chairman, president and chief executive officer of Columbia Energy Group, has been elected to the Board of Directors of American Electric Power Co., Inc. Richard, 60, was chairman, president and chief executive officer of Columbia Energy Group from 1995 to 2000. Currently, Richard is president of Empire of the Seed, a consulting firm in the energy, management, and private investments industries. He also serves as a director of Buckeye Partners L.P. and Cheniere Energy Partners GP LLC and as chairman of CleanFUEL USA.