AECI names new CEO

Associated Electric Cooperative Inc. yesterday announced it selected a new CEO and general manager to succeed its retiring top executive.

David Tudor is scheduled to start May 16. He succeeds Jim Jura, who has worked as CEO and general manager since 1991, according to a news release.

“David is a proven executive with a record of success in our industry,” Jura said in the release. “In my remaining days at (AECI), I am looking forward to working with the board, our senior management team and David to ensure an effective and smooth transition into a new era.”

A 30 year-industry veteran, Tudor currently serves as senior adviser for Texas-based Calpine Corp. (NYSE: CPN). The publicly traded company last year bought Champion Energy Services, for which Tudor worked as president and CEO.

The AECI board conducted a national search to find Jura’s successor after he announced his retirement in September.

“We believe David is the right leader at the right time for Associated Electric and its member systems,” board President Emery Geisendorfer said in the release.

AECI is owned by and provides power to 875,000 customers through six regional and 51 electrical cooperative systems in Missouri, southeast Iowa and northeast Oklahoma.