Aqua America announces executive leadership changes
BRYN MAWR » Aqua America has announced some changes to its senior management team as a result of the planned retirement of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer David Smeltzer. Smeltzer will retire in October after a 32-year career with Aqua America.
Daniel Schuller, who currently serves as executive vice president, strategy and corporate development, will succeed Smeltzer as CFO, with an immediate appointment as deputy CFO until Smeltzer’s formal retirement. That announcement was made Monday by Christopher H. Franklin, Aqua America Inc. chairman and CEO.
In his new role, Schuller will oversee all financial functions including accounting, tax, treasury, planning and capital spending, according to a press release. He has served in his current role at Aqua since August 2015, where he is responsible for developing, communicating and executing Aqua’s strategic initiatives, with an emphasis on growth. Prior to joining Aqua, Schuller spent eight years with J.P. Morgan Asset Management – Infrastructure Investments Group.
Matthew Rhodes will join the company to fill Schuller’s current role as executive vice president, strategy and corporate development, according to the release. In addition, Christina Kelly will join the company as senior vice president and chief human resources officer.
Named CFO in 1999, Smeltzer was appointed executive vice president in 2012.
“During his decades of service, Dave’s leadership has left an indelible mark on Aqua and we thank him for the lasting contributions he’s made to our company, and for the benefit of our customers,” Franklin said in the release. “Everyone who knows Dave knows he is a genuine, pragmatic leader. I am confident that Dan’s experience will allow him to build on Dave’s legacy, and that Matt’s addition to the team will further expand on the company’s initiatives.”
Rhodes will join Aqua in June. He has spent 11 years with the investment banking division at Goldman Sachs, where he was a managing director with lead coverage responsibility for more than 25 regulated electric and gas utility clients.
Schuller’s promotion and Rhodes’ appointment are a result of Smeltzer’s pending retirement.
Kelly was most recently vice president of human resources for Amerisource-Bergen Corp. She has 14 years of experience leading human resources teams. She will begin her new role May 21.
“At Aqua, we deeply value our employees and their contributions toward our mission of protecting and providing Earth’s most essential resource,” said Franklin in the release. “Christina is wellequipped to provide experienced leadership to our human resources efforts aimed at ensuring we’ve got all the tools in place to support our team and our culture.”
In their new posts, Schuller, Rhodes and Kelly will report to Franklin.
Aqua America serves nearly 3 million people in Pennsylvania, Ohio, North Carolina, Illinois, Texas, New Jersey, Indiana and Virginia. For more information visit AquaAmerica.com.