Thu | May 2, 2024

JPS’s former head joins US energy firm

Published:Friday | February 9, 2024 | 12:12 AMSteven Jackson - Senior Business Reporter
Former JPS President and CEO Steve Berberich (left) speaking with Dr Tomlin Paul, UWI deputy principal, Mona, at the MOU Signing between JPS Foundation and The UWI CAPE Workshops at JPS head office on Knutsford Boulevard in New Kingston on Thursday, Augus
Rudolph Brown
Former JPS President and CEO Steve Berberich (left) speaking with Dr Tomlin Paul, UWI deputy principal, Mona, at the MOU Signing between JPS Foundation and The UWI CAPE Workshops at JPS head office on Knutsford Boulevard in New Kingston on Thursday, August 31, 2023. Berberich, who recently resigned from the JPS, has joined United States firm Onward Energy.

Former President and CEO of Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS), Steve Berberich, was recently appointed to lead United States (US)-based renewable energy firm Onward Energy, for which he served as a board member in 2023.

“I am grateful for the leadership of my friend Steve Doyon, and I look forward to picking up where he left off at Onward,” stated Berberich in a release from Onward.

Onward Energy was formed in 2021 through a merger of Novatus Energy, for which Steve Doyon served as the founding CEO, and Southwest Generation.

Berberich then “joined” the board of Onward Energy in 2023, according to the release.

He resigned from JPS in January after serving in the position from May 2023. His outgoing statement mentioned that it was due to a “recent death” in his family and “other pressing matters”.

On January 29, Onward Energy’s board announced the appointment of Berberich as its president and CEO, along with the retirement of Doyon, who held that position.

In Jamaica, Berberich was replaced by Chairman Damian Obiglio, also a former CEO and president of JPS. Obiglio assumed the role of acting CEO effective Monday.

“He will take over from Berberich effective February 5 and will remain in that role until a new CEO is seated,” stated the JPS release.

The JPS board of directors expressed its resolve to execute a three-year business plan that started in 2024. At the core of this business plan are the four pillars of customer service -- excellence, expansion of renewables, electrification of transportation, and distributed generation, the company stated.

Onward Energy owns and operates 6.2 gigawatts of solar, wind, and gas generation projects across the US. Berberich brings a wealth of experience, having served as president and CEO of the California Independent System Operator from 2011 to 2020, where he spearheaded efforts to expand regional operations and decarbonise the grid, the release stated.

Onward Energy operates in 22 states and provides reliable electricity to customers, while advancing decarbonisation goals.

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