NRG Energy’s Board of Directors has appointed Robert J. Gaudette as Chief Executive Officer, effective April 30, 2026, coinciding with the company’s annual stockholders meeting. Gaudette was also named President of NRG immediately. He has been with NRG for 25 years and most recently served as Executive Vice President and President of Business and Wholesale Operations since 2022.
The board announced on January 7 that it plans to nominate Gaudette for election to the NRG Board of Directors at the 2026 annual meeting. This transition is part of a planned succession process.
Lawrence Coben, Ph.D., will step down as President but remain Chair and CEO until April 30, after which he will serve as an adviser to the company for the rest of 2026. Antonio Carrillo, currently Lead Independent Director, will become Chair effective April 30, 2026.
“Serving as CEO of NRG has been a great privilege and highlight of my career. I am grateful to have worked alongside NRG’s talented team during this exciting time for our industry and am proud of all that we have accomplished together,” Coben said.
“Rob has played a central role in strengthening NRG’s position as a leader in our industry through strategic growth, operational excellence, and customer-focused innovation,” Coben said. “He is a strong, decisive leader with extensive knowledge of our business, markets, and customers. The Board and I are confident that Rob is the right person to lead NRG forward and take the NRG rocket ship to new heights. I can’t wait to see what comes next.”
In his current role at NRG, Gaudette oversees one of North America’s largest business-to-business retail gas, power, and demand response platforms. He manages commercial and industrial products and services along with market operations such as gas and power trading, origination, analytics, real-time operations, power generation plant operations, asset management, development, engineering, and procurement.
“It is an honor to be appointed NRG’s next CEO at this transformative time for the energy sector and our company,” Gaudette said. “With NRG’s electricity, natural gas and smart home portfolio, we are ideally positioned to meet America’s evolving energy needs.
“I am grateful to Larry and all my NRG colleagues, both past and present who built our great company and positioned us for the future,” Gaudette said. “I look forward to leading our incredible team to deliver affordable resilient power for the customers and communities we serve while creating substantial value for our shareholders.”
Carrillo thanked Coben for his leadership during his tenure as CEO: “Under his stewardship NRG achieved excellent operational and financial performance,” Carrillo said. “His many contributions to the company will be felt for years to come.”
“Rob is a proven leader with an exceptional track record who is deeply respected within NRG and across the energy sector,” Carrillo added. “We know he will lead NRG to continued success.”
NRG operates across many states in North America with major hubs in Texas, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York California Illinois plus numerous power plants service centers nationwide serving over eight million customers in 24 states Canada.
The New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA) promotes business success by providing information services advocacy cost-saving benefits partnerships among businesses government academia representing employers from sectors like manufacturing retail wholesale contracting services throughout New Jersey according to its official website. NJBIA maintains its headquarters in Trenton serves as one of the largest statewide employer associations in the United States (source).
