CPS Energy Board Appoints Rudy Garza As Interim President And CEO

by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
November 2, 2021

The CPS Energy Board of Trustees voted on Nov. 1 to appoint Rudy Garza as Interim President and CEO, effective November 8, 2021. Garza will serve in this role while the search for the permanent President and CEO takes place.

CPS Energy President and CEO Paula Gold-Williams on Oct. 21 informed the public power utility’s Board of Trustees of her plans to leave CPS Energy in early 2022.

The Board of Trustees announced at an October 25, 2021 board meeting that Chair Willis Mackey and Vice Chair Janie Gonzalez will lead the CEO Search Committee for the new President and 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 utility in a helpful capacity through her formal planned departure in January 2022, CPS Energy said.

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 CPS Energy 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 and 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.

CPS Energy said that Garza and his leadership team will be evaluating the realignment of work and will provide updates on any organizational changes in the coming weeks.