Navigating Energy’s Next Frontier: Strategic Guidance for a Changing Utility Landscape

Client Overview

Our client is a diversified energy company with a broad national footprint, operating across both utility and non-utility sectors. Its electric and natural gas subsidiaries serve a combined 3.6 million customers in the Midwest, while its growing portfolio of non-utility businesses includes ventures in renewable natural gas, industrial energy services, and energy trading. With over 10,000 employees and a strong community focus, the company leverages its utility expertise to drive innovation and economic progress in the evolving energy landscape.

The Challenge / Mandate

Each year, the company delivers a strategic trends presentation to its Board of Directors, offering insights into the shifting dynamics of the utility and energy industries. For this year’s effort, the client sought interim support from a Strategy Director who could focus on three key areas: emerging developments in renewable energy, small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs), and the impact of recent federal legislation—including the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The interim leader was also tasked with offering insight into relevant state-level policy trends, especially in states like California, which often set national precedents in energy innovation.

The Search

We focused on candidates with strong strategic planning backgrounds in the energy sector, ideally with consulting experience at top-tier firms and familiarity with utility operations. The role required someone comfortable synthesizing complex policy, regulatory, and technological data into actionable insights for executive and board-level audiences. Experience in renewables, energy policy, and small modular nuclear technology was considered a strong advantage.

The Placement

The interim Strategy Director brought a well-rounded background spanning corporate leadership, government service, and consulting. Their prior roles included serving as a senior official at the U.S. Department of Energy and as a board member for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. They had also held executive roles in corporate environments, where they led teams and developed business strategies that drove revenue growth. In addition, they provided independent strategy and financial consulting to companies across the energy sector. Most recently, they served as Chief Operating Officer of an investment firm specializing in revitalizing older power generation assets by transitioning them to renewable energy solutions and battery storage infrastructure.

The Outcome

The interim hire successfully conducted in-depth research and developed presentation materials on the emerging landscape of small modular nuclear reactors. They facilitated high-level introductions to executives at several SMR companies and conducted detailed policy reviews at both the federal and state levels. The consultant also arranged meetings with senior congressional staff in Washington, D.C., and with key policymakers in California—helping to contextualize regulatory trends likely to shape the industry’s future. Their contributions were instrumental in equipping the client’s leadership with strategic insights and connections needed to guide board-level planning and decision-making.