Stakeholders have tapped former PepsiCo Chief Information Officer Jody Davids to serve on MISO’s Board of Directors, creating a first-ever woman majority for the body.
Davids’ appointment means the nine-member board of independent directors tips to a woman majority for the first time since it was established in 1998. Davids joins female Directors Theresa Wise, Barbara Krumsiek, Nancy Lange and Chair Phyllis Currie.
“Even amidst this most challenging year, MISO continues its commitment to diversity and inclusion — this extends to our staff and board. We recognize that we need diverse voices and experiences to move us forward,” MISO CEO John Bear told RTO Insider. “Ms. Davids brings robust information technology knowledge to help us innovate and adapt to the accelerating changes in our industry.”
Members also voted to retain incumbent Directors Wise and Robert Lurie, who are both rounding out their first terms and applied for reappointment. Lurie served the final year of former Director Thomas Rainwater’s term, which expires next month. (See MISO Sets Candidate Slate for Board Elections.)
The three-year terms begin Jan. 1.
The election means veteran Director Baljit Dail will not return to the board’s U-shaped table in 2021. Dail served 12 years on the board — three more than technically allowed — through a special waiver that allowed him to stand an extra term to allow the board to retain a person with technology knowhow.
A technology expertise vacuum among board members is no longer a problem with the entry of Davids, who brings more than three decades of experience managing the technology workings of large companies. She has also served as CIO for Agrium, Best Buy and Cardinal Health, and currently sits on the board for Premier, a Charlotte, N.C.-based health care improvement company. Davids holds an MBA from San Jose State University.
“We are pleased to welcome Jody to the board and excited that Bob and Theresa will continue serving. We thank Bal for his service and wish him continued success,” Currie said in a release. “The diversity of thought and experience has never been more important to the MISO board. As we continue to innovate during these challenging times, we are confident that these leaders will help us continue to move forward.”
Bear said Davids’ experience will complement an already “solid team of leaders” on the board.
“I am honored to be selected and delighted to join the MISO board. As a reliable and affordable grid operator, MISO has already achieved much success. I look forward to contributing to this well respected group of experienced professionals,” Davids said.
