Electric utility company Westar Energy has promoted Kevin Kongs, currently assistant controller, to the position of vice president and controller, effective Nov. 8.

During his 24-year career with Westar Energy, Kongs has led teams in accounting, tax and financial accounting. Since 2006, he has served as assistant controller. In 2012 and 2013, he served as co-lead on an IT transformation project that updated legacy accounting systems and drove change in business practices throughout the company.

Kongs assumes the controller position from Lee Wages, who will retire Nov. 8. Wages, who started his career with Westar Energy in 1977 as a regulatory analyst, has served as controller since 1999.