Associated Electric’s CFO announces retirement, successor named

David McNabb, Associated Electric Cooperative’s senior vice president and chief financial officer, announced he will transition from that position Oct. 1 to serve as senior vice president and special advisor to the CEO and general manager, pending McNabb’s retirement at the end of the year.  

Meredith Roberts, currently Associated’s vice president and controller, will succeed McNabb as senior vice president and CFO effective Oct. 1, 2021.

“Dave’s expertise and efforts have helped to build Associated into a financially strong and flexible cooperative able to successfully navigate challenges and opportunities,” said David Tudor, Associated’s CEO and general manager. “He has worked tirelessly on issues important to Associated and its members, bringing insights that, at their center, safeguard our mission to provide affordable and reliable electricity.”

McNabb joined Associated Electric in 1997 and was selected chief financial officer in late 2006. Prior to his role as CFO, McNabb spent nine years as manager of resource planning and operations, where he was responsible for managing Associated’s wholesale energy marketing; planning and acquiring generation assets; procuring natural gas resources; producing long-range energy and financial forecasts; and helping to evaluate power pool, regional transmission organizations and strategic transmission options. Previously, he worked with Central and South West Services, TU Electric and Public Service Co. of Oklahoma in various transmission planning and research and development roles.

Successor brings deep experience to challenging role

Tudor said Roberts’ deep experience in the financial strategies and tactics of the cooperative system make her an ideal candidate to lead the Accounting and Finance Division and future efforts to maintain Associated’s financial strength.

“Associated has a strong succession plan used as a guide when challenges like a retiring CFO occur,” Tudor said. “We are fortunate that Dave has prepared Meredith for this opportunity, making the decision on her selection clear.  I am confident Associated will not lose any momentum through this transition.”

Roberts’ 17-year career with Associated has included leadership of financial reporting and analysis, accounting and budgeting, as well as work in resource planning. Since 2008 she has served as controller, first as senior manager and then as vice president, playing an integral role in developing strategies and implementing tactics to maintain the financial strength and flexibility of the cooperative. In that role, she leads 17 accounting and finance team members.

Prior to joining Associated, Roberts, a certified public accountant, worked as a supervisor for BKD CPA & Advisors, a top 15 accounting and consulting firm in the nation. She started her career with Ernst & Young, one of the largest professional services networks in the world.  Roberts earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Missouri State University and a master’s in business administration from Drury University.

About Associated Electric Cooperative

Associated Electric Cooperative Inc. is owned by and provides wholesale power to a system of six regional transmission cooperatives and their 51 local distribution cooperatives. This cooperative system delivers electricity to 2.1 million member-consumers behind the 935,000 meters served in Missouri, northeast Oklahoma and southeast Iowa. Associated’s mission is to deliver economical and reliable power and support services.  Associated is a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

An Equal Opportunity Employer and provider/disability/veteran.

Media contact:   Mark Viguet, managing director of corporate communications

Telephone:         (417) 371-5246

Email:                mviguet@aeci.org