Leadership

Richard Smith, President, Wholesale Commodities Business Smith was named president of Entergy’s wholesale commodities business unit in June 2010. The new organization is aimed at strengthening local regulatory presence in the Northeast and consolidating commercial and risk functions for Entergy’s wholesale commodity business associated with non-utility generation. As president of that business unit, Smith will be headquartered in White Plains, N.Y., where other critical regulatory efforts associated with license renewal are also located.

Smith had previously served as Entergy Corporation’s president and chief operating officer from April 2007 until June 2010. He oversaw Entergy Nuclear and Entergy Operations, which includes fossil plant operations, transmission operations, system environmental and safety, system planning, compliance and performance management.

Prior to being named president and COO, Smith was group president of Entergy’s Utility Operations. He was responsible for the regulated utility financial results, along with operation results of electric and natural gas distribution and customer service. In addition, Rick oversaw utility regulatory support and regulated retail activities.

Rick joined Entergy in September 1999 as senior vice president, transition management. In October 2000, Rick was a named president of Entergy’s retail organization.

Before joining Entergy, Rick held several executive positions at Cinergy Corp., a multi-state electric utility company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Smith was president of Cinergy Resources, Inc., Cinergy’s non-regulated retail supply business until August 1999. From March to May 1999, he was vice president for energy services with responsibilities for all customer-service functions including field offices, call centers, meter reading, billing, credit, and collections. In addition, this position included retail sales and marketing activities.

He was vice president of finance for Cinergy's energy services business unit from 1996 to March 1999. In that position, he directed the business unit's accounting, financial, and information technology operations, and served as chief financial officer with responsibilities for strategic planning, budgeting, and business development activities. During this time Smith was instrumental in development of the energy services business unit’s non-regulated business of Cadence, Cinergy Business Solutions, and Cinergy Resources, Inc. – of which he was interim president.

He has a B.S. degree in accounting from Indiana University and Purdue University of Indianapolis and a M.B.A. degree from the University of Indianapolis.

Updated 6/10