Chesapeake Utilities CFO Beth Cooper announces retirement, COO Jeff Sylvester named successor
Chesapeake Utilities (NYSE: CPK) announced that CFO Beth Cooper will retire effective June 30, 2026, after 36 years with the company.
Rhea-AI Summary
Chesapeake Utilities (NYSE: CPK) announced that CFO Beth Cooper will retire effective June 30, 2026, after 36 years with the company. COO Jeff Sylvester will succeed her as CFO on July 1, 2026.
Cooper became CFO in September 2008 and is credited with driving earnings growth, balance sheet strength and long-term value creation. Sylvester joined Chesapeake Utilities in 2004, returned in 2019, and has served as COO since 2022, overseeing operations, customer care, project development and safety.
Positive
- Planned CFO succession effective July 1, 2026
- Successor Jeff Sylvester has operational and financial experience
- CFO Beth Cooper provided 36 years institutional continuity
Negative
- Loss of CFO with 36 years tenure may reduce institutional knowledge
- Mid-year finance leadership change could affect year-end planning continuity
Details
News Market Reaction – CPK
In the Mar 24 session, CPK declined 1.67%, reflecting a mild negative market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
- CFO tenure
- 36 years
- Beth Cooper’s total career length at Chesapeake Utilities
- Retirement date
- June 30, 2026
- Planned retirement date for CFO Beth Cooper
- Succession effective date
- July 1, 2026
- Jeff Sylvester becomes CFO following Cooper’s retirement
- Join year (Cooper)
- 1990
- Year Beth Cooper joined Chesapeake Utilities
- CFO appointment year
- September 2008
- Month and year Cooper was named CFO
- Join year (Sylvester)
- 2004
- Year Jeff Sylvester first joined Chesapeake Utilities
- COO appointment year
- 2022
- Year Sylvester was named chief operating officer
- Vice president tenure
- 2010–2012
- Sylvester’s role as VP of customer care at Florida Public Utilities
Historical Context
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Announced $500,000 multi-year commitment to first responder training center.
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Reported FY2025 EPS growth and record $470.4M capital spending with strong margins.
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Declared $0.685 dividend and highlighted 65-year uninterrupted payment history.
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Scheduled Q4 and FY2025 earnings call and webcast with timing details.
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Secured natural gas service role for new 400,000+ sq ft Sussex Tech campus.
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
Cooper joined Chesapeake Utilities in 1990 and held numerous roles in the financial and strategic planning areas of the Company until she was named CFO in September 2008. Throughout her tenure, she advanced the Company's strategy by driving industry-leading earnings growth and above-average returns, ensuring balance sheet strength and financial discipline, and propelling the Company toward significant, sustained long-term growth.
"On behalf of the entire Chesapeake Utilities family, I'd like to congratulate Beth on a truly impressive track record of service, performance and growth. Her passion for the Company, unmatched work ethic and strength in building relationships have had an outsized impact on who we are today and what we've achieved over the last few decades," said Jeff Householder, chair of the Board, president and chief executive officer. "We are grateful for Beth's authentic leadership and strategic guidance that will continue to benefit the Company for years to come."
"It has been a joy and privilege to spend my career at Chesapeake Utilities, surrounded by people that consistently bring their best each and every day," said Cooper. "I am proud of the success we achieved as we expanded the business, served increasing customer demand and created value for all stakeholders. Supported by our perseverance and the reputation we've built, I'm confident the Company is well-positioned for continued long-term growth."
Following increasing responsibilities driving revenue growth and business strategy, Sylvester served as vice president of customer care at Chesapeake Utilities subsidiary Florida Public Utilities from 2010 to 2012 before serving as vice president of operations at Black Hills Energy. He returned to Chesapeake Utilities in 2019 as senior vice president of operations and was named chief operating officer in 2022, leading overall company operations, customer care, project development and safety.
Sylvester began his career in financial analyst and controller roles at ThruPoint, GTE and Plantronics. He holds a Bachelor of Science in finance management and a Master of Business Administration in finance from Clemson University.
"Jeff brings deep financial and operational knowledge of our business alongside valuable expertise in acquisitions, integrations and large-scale transformations, all of which are critical for our next stage of growth and development," Householder said. "I am confident in his leadership and ability to drive continued success within the three pillars of our growth strategy as we deliver energy that strengthens our customers and communities."
Chesapeake Utilities Corporation
Chesapeake Utilities Corporation is a diversified energy delivery company, listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:CPK). Chesapeake Utilities Corporation offers sustainable energy solutions through its natural gas transmission and distribution, electricity generation and distribution, propane gas distribution, mobile compressed natural gas utility services and solutions and other businesses. For more information, visit www.chpk.com.
For more information, contact:
Lucia M. Dempsey
Head of Investor Relations
347.804.9067
LDempsey@chpk.com
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SOURCE Chesapeake Utilities Corporation
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