Oglethorpe Power Corp., the Tucker-based power supply cooperative, has named Michael Smith as president and chief executive officer.
Smith, president and CEO of Georgia Transmission Corp., will join Oglethorpe on Nov. 6, replacing Tom Smith (no relation), who had been president and CEO until his death in June.
Michael Smith has been CEO of Georgia Transmission since 2005.The company builds and maintains high-voltage power lines and substations for electric membership corporations.
Oglethorpe Chairman Benny Denham said the company conducted a nationwide search before choosing Smith. “We were impressed with Mike’s work experience, industry knowledge and leadership capabilities and are confident in his ability to continue to move Oglethorpe forward in order to meet the energy needs of our members,” Denham said in a statement.
Smith is a former finance executive at ARCO, in Houston, Texas, and has served as chief financial officer of Southern Company Energy Marketing, CFO of Mirant-Americas and chief risk officer of Mirant Corp. He is also a former executive director of the Committee of Chief Risk Officers, a non-profit trade group.
Oglethorpe, founded in 1974, is owned by its 38 electric membership corporations and has assets of more than $8 billion. The company operates natural gas, hydroelectric, coal and nuclear generating plants.
Tom Smith had led the company for 14 years before losing a battle with cancer in June.
