Great Plains Energy, a holding company of Kansas City Power & Light Company, has appointed Thomas Hyde to its board of directors.

Hyde recently retired from retail giant, Wal-Mart Stores, where he most recently served as corporate secretary and executive vice president of legal and ethics. Prior to joining Wal-Mart, Hyde served as senior vice president and general counsel of Raytheon Company, which he joined in 1992.

Hyde has also served in a number of key legal, financial, and general management positions for several companies including Denver-based Manville Corporation, a building products manufacturer, and St. Louis-based Emerson Electric, a diversified manufacturing company.