According to www.mdm.com, Crescent Electric Supply Co. announced on Sept. 10 that President and CEO Penny Cotner plans to retire in April 2027, approximately 18 months after assuming the role on Oct. 1, 2025.
Leadership Transition Timeline
Cotner will remain in her position through April 2027 and collaborate with the board to ensure a smooth leadership handover. The East Dubuque, IL-based distributor’s board has initiated a national search for her successor. Board Chair Mike Sullivan emphasized that the advance notice — issued more than a year before Cotner’s planned exit — provides sufficient time to identify the next leader while sustaining ongoing strategic initiatives.
Cotner described her decision as deeply personal, stating:
“This is a deeply personal decision, driven by a shift in my own circumstances,”
and noted it followed considerable reflection. She succeeded Scott Teerlinck, who announced his departure in December 2024 to join Atkore, an electrical products manufacturer.
During the interim period between Teerlinck’s exit and Cotner’s start date, CFO Kristi Dahlke served as interim leader. Cotner joined Crescent after 12 years at Infinite Electronics, including seven years as its CEO and service on its board; earlier roles included positions at Arrow Electronics and NASA’s International Space Station program.
New Chief Supply Chain Officer Effective Aug. 31
The CEO retirement announcement follows Crescent’s Sept. 4 announcement promoting Kristee Mitchell to Chief Supply Chain Officer, effective Aug. 31. Mitchell joined Crescent in 2023 and most recently held the title of Vice President of Supply Chain Fulfillment.
Her expanded responsibilities now encompass supplier partnerships, supply chain fulfillment, distribution center operations, transportation management, and operational excellence across the enterprise. Crescent operates more than 140 branches in 28 states, serving contractors, original equipment manufacturers, and maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) customers across commercial, industrial, institutional, and utility sectors.
In MDM’s 2026 Top Distributors Lists, Crescent ranked No. 13 for Electrical distributors. The company’s recent leadership moves come amid continued growth in the electrical distribution sector, with peers such as City Electric Supply reporting 10% annual North American sales growth and adding more than 1,700 team members over a comparable period.
Source: mdm.com
Compiled from international media by the SCI.AI editorial team.
