Mary Powell Announces She will Leave Green Mountain Power at Year’s End, Senior VP Mari McClure to Become President and CEO Jan. 1, 2020

COLCHESTER, Vt. – Green Mountain Power today announced Mary Powell, president and CEO for 12 years, will leave the company at the end of the year after more than two decades of transformational leadership in energy and innovation. GMP also announced Senior Vice President Mari McClure as the next president and CEO of GMP. McClure, a 10-year veteran of GMP, is poised to continue the company legacy of providing clean, reliable power, while also innovating to provide customers with the tools they need to cut carbon and costs.

“It has been one of the greatest honors of my life to serve in this role, and work alongside so many dedicated employees, who care so deeply about this state, the planet, and the customers we serve,” Powell said.  “After 12 years as president and CEO, and over 20 years at GMP, it is time to turn over the reins to a new leader. For my part, I plan to continue the fight against climate change in Vermont and across the country. I care deeply about our customers and this state, and am so proud of the progress we have made to operate efficiently, deliver innovations, and act quickly to address the climate crisis. I have loved working alongside Mari. Her drive, coupled with thoughtfulness and grit, make her a highly effective leader who will deliver great results for customers, now and into the future.”

Powell leaves the company in an incredibly strong position. GMP was named the Deane C. Davis Business of the Year and one of the Best Places to Work in Vermont by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce and Vermont Business Magazine this year. GMP earned a spot on Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies in the World list three years in a row, and J.D. Power’s latest rankings put GMP among the top utilities for customer satisfaction. Together, Powell and McClure led the work to get GMP certified as a B Corp in 2014, the first utility in the world to achieve the distinction. GMP was recertified in 2017, meeting rigorous social, environmental, accountability, and transparency standards, and committed to use business as a force for good.

Elizabeth Bankowski, a longtime member of the Green Mountain Power Board of Directors and head of the Windham Foundation, praised Powell and McClure.  “The board is very appreciative of Mary Powell’s many contributions, and we could not be more thrilled with the selection of Mari McClure as the next generation leader of Green Mountain Power,” she said. “Mari’s commitment to Vermont and to the company, and her amazing track record of leadership, has us excited about this next chapter.”

McClure joined GMP in 2010, and has served in leading roles in nearly every aspect of GMP operations, including information technology, regulatory, legal, fleet, facilities, workforce development, and cultural transformation. During McClure’s tenure, she led organizational developments, helping GMP become a national leader in operational effectiveness and innovation while delivering superior customer service. She also leads labor relations, creating a culture of strong, honest communications with employees, always with a focus on safety.

“This is an incredible time in the energy world, and I’m thrilled to lead GMP as we work to meet our goals, including being 100% renewable by 2030, and leveraging fiscal discipline and energy innovations to deliver results for customers, with a continued focus on reducing carbon,” McClure said. “Mary is a great mentor who empowers everyone at GMP to work hard to fulfill our mission. It’s inspiring to carry on this important work and push GMP to be even stronger for all of the customers and communities we serve.”

Prior to joining GMP, McClure was an attorney at Vermont’s largest law firm, Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC, where she advised individuals and businesses working in business and corporate law, commercial transactions, and real estate. Mari’s first love is basketball. She was a standout NCAA Division I basketball player at the University of Buffalo, where she served as captain of the team for two seasons. She was also a Division I basketball coach at Colgate University.  Mari has an undergraduate degree and law degree from the University of Buffalo. She lives in Jericho and has two sons.

About Green Mountain Power

Green Mountain Power (GMP) serves approximately 265,000 residential and business customers in Vermont and is partnering with them to improve lives and transform communities. GMP is focused on a new way of doing business to meet the needs of customers with integrated energy services that help people use less energy and save money, while continuing to generate clean, cost-effective and reliable power in Vermont. GMP earned a spot on Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies in the World list three years in a row (2017, 2018, 2019).  GMP is the first utility in the world to get a B Corp certification, meeting rigorous social, environmental, accountability and transparency standards and committing to use business as a force for good. J.D. Power’s 2018 and 2019 rankings put GMP among top utilities for customer satisfaction.

Kristin Kelly, Green Mountain Power
(802) 318-0872
[email protected]

It has been one of the greatest honors of my life to serve in this role, and work alongside so many dedicated employees, who care so deeply about this state, the planet, and the customers we serve

Mary Powell, President and CEO