By Dana C. Sotoodeh, CPS Energy Contributing Writer
The CPS Energy Board of Trustees voted recently to appoint Rudy D. Garza as Interim President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective November 8, 2021. Garza will serve in this role while the search for the permanent President & CEO takes place.
The Board of Trustees announced at the October 25, 2021 Board Meeting that Chair Dr. Willis Mackey and Vice Chair Janie Gonzalez will lead the CEO Search Committee for the new President & CEO. All Board Members will be involved in the process. To help with the national search, the Board will retain an external firm, which has not been selected yet. Gold-Williams will remain with the Company in a helpful capacity through her formal planned departure in January 2022.
“We want to thank Ms. Gold-Williams for remaining with us and sharing her knowledge base through this transitional period,” said CPS Energy Board Chair Dr. Willis Mackey. “The Board is confident that Mr. Garza will serve in this role with enthusiasm and a focus on restoring the trust of our customers.”
“Rudy Garza has the experience and ability needed to keep CPS Energy operating efficiently during the national search for a permanent CEO,” said Mayor Ron Nirenberg. “This transition gives the organization the opportunity to prepare for coping with the evolving energy environment that it will face in the future.”
“I know Rudy will lead CPS Energy’s dedicated team members successfully and I am committed to supporting him through my planned departure in early 2022. It has been my honor serving the citizens of San Antonio, the community from which I was born and raised,” said Paula Gold-Williams, outgoing President & CEO of CPS Energy.
“It is an honor to have the opportunity to serve this organization and our community. I want to thank the Board for entrusting me in this role and I want to thank Paula for her personal mentorship of me through my career here at CPS Energy,” said Rudy D. Garza, Interim President & CEO of CPS Energy. “My focus will be to ensure our employees and systems are prepared for the winter months and to rebuild the trust of our community. The CPS Energy team remains committed to working every day to provide our community with the service they expect.”
Garza has more than 25 years as a leader in the electric and natural gas utility industry and has served in both the public and private sectors over the course of his career. Garza has a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas in Austin and a Master of Business Administration from the University of North Texas.
Garza previously served as Chief Customer & Stakeholder Engagement Officer for the company and he will become the first Hispanic leader to hold this leadership position. Garza joined CPS Energy in 2012 and previously served as Senior Vice President of Distribution Service & Operations where he oversaw the maintenance and construction activity of the electric distribution system and has also served the company in the role of Vice President of External Relations.
Garza and his leadership team will be evaluating the realignment of work and will provide updates on any organizational changes in the coming weeks.
For more information, please visit cpsenergy.com.
Source: CPS Energy
