Chesapeake Utilities Corp. names president, CEO

Chesapeake Utilities Corp. appointed Jeffry Householder to president and CEO. Householder will now also serve on the company’s board of directors, succeeding Michael McMasters.

“Jeff’s leadership, innovation and strategic thinking have been critical drivers of the dramatic growth we have cultivated in our Florida operations, and I am confident that under his leadership Chesapeake’s culture will flourish and continue to produce superior service to our customers and value for our shareholders,” says McMasters. “I congratulate Jeff and look forward to supporting him and Chesapeake’s very capable senior management team to ensure a smooth transition and the company’s future success.”

McMasters will continue to serve on the board of directors, the company says, after announcing his retirement in September 2018. McMasters served as president and CEO from 2011 to 2018.

“Jeff has the experience, leadership skills and vision that are essential for the continued success of our businesses, and he understands the culture and values that have driven Chesapeake’s track record of success,” says John Schimkaitis, chairman of the board of directors for Chesapeake Utilities. “We are committed to leadership development and planned transitions in our management team, and Jeff’s accomplishments as the leader of our Florida business unit underlie our confidence in his ability to build on Chesapeake’s strong foundation and lead the management team, as we continue our culture of entrepreneurial, disciplined capital investment.”

Householder has more than 30 years of energy industry experience and joined Chesapeake Utilities in 2010 as president of the company’s Florida business unit. He also served in leadership positions with TECO Energy Peoples Gas, West Florida Gas Co., Florida City Gas and Tallahassee Utilities. He has also been a member of various executive committees within the company, including employee benefits, security and procurement, and serves on the boards of the Edison Electric Institute, Southern Gas Association and Florida Natural Gas Association.

“This is a very exciting time at Chesapeake, and I am honored to have the opportunity to build on the success the company and its employees produced under Mike’s leadership,” Householder says. “We will continue to grow our existing businesses and seek new growth opportunities while maintaining our traditional financial discipline. Chesapeake’s consistent generation of superior earnings growth and total return to shareholders is a testimony to the culture we have nurtured and to the talent and commitment of our management team and employees. I look forward to leading our team while serving and growing our businesses profitably for the benefit of customers and shareholders.”

Chesapeake Utilities Corp. is a diversified energy company engaged in natural gas distribution, transmission, gathering and processing, and marketing; electricity generation and distribution; propane gas distribution; and other businesses.

*Featured image: iStock.com/arthobbit