JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) Gov. Jay Nixon has appointed Robert Kenney, of St. Louis, to head the Missouri Public Service Commission.

Kenney has served on the regulatory commission since 2009. As chairman he replaces Kevin Gunn, who announced in January he would resign from the PSC effective Friday.

The Public Service Commission regulates investor-owned utilities providing electricity, natural gas, water, sewer and telephone services. Governors appoint members of the five-member commission and the chairman.

Kenney is an attorney. Before joining the PSC, he was chief of staff for Attorney General Chris Koster. When Nixon was attorney general, Kenney specialized in consumer protection cases.