NRG Energy appoints Brad Bentley as president of consumer division

HOUSTON - NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NRG), a $29.4 billion market cap utility company currently trading near its InvestingPro Fair Value, announced Thursday the appointment of Brad Bentley as President of NRG Consumer, effective July 28, 2025. Bentley will report directly to Larry Coben, Chair, President, and Chief Executive Officer of NRG Energy.

In his new role, Bentley will lead NRG’s Home Energy and Smart Home businesses, which currently serve more than 8 million customers across North America. He will be responsible for strengthening consumer loyalty, accelerating innovation, and delivering technology-enabled solutions. The company has demonstrated strong financial performance, with revenue reaching $29.3 billion and an impressive 93% return over the past year.

Bentley joins NRG from Expedia Group, Inc., where he served as Chief Operating Officer of Traveler Operation, managing the $10 billion global Expedia Traveler business. His previous experience includes serving as CEO and President of Inspire Clean Energy prior to its acquisition by Shell in 2021. He has also held senior leadership positions at WarnerMedia, AT&T, and DIRECTV.

"Brad’s leadership will help bring NRG’s consumer-first vision to the next level for millions of customers," said Coben in the press release statement.

Bentley holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Vanguard University and a master’s degree in marketing from Northwestern University.

NRG Energy provides natural gas, electricity, and smart home solutions to customers across North America. The company describes itself as a leading competitive retail energy provider and smart home provider. According to InvestingPro, NRG has maintained a strong financial health score and has consistently raised its dividend for 5 consecutive years. Get access to 10+ additional exclusive ProTips and comprehensive analysis through InvestingPro’s detailed research reports, available for 1,400+ top US stocks.

In other recent news, NRG Energy reported impressive financial results for the first quarter of 2025, with earnings per share (EPS) of $2.68, surpassing analyst expectations of $1.67. The company’s revenue also exceeded forecasts, reaching $8.59 billion compared to the anticipated $7.61 billion. In addition to these financial achievements, NRG Energy announced the acquisition of a significant virtual power plant portfolio from LS Power, valued at $12.9 billion. This strategic acquisition is expected to enhance NRG’s earnings per share and free cash flow, according to analysts at BMO Capital Markets, who subsequently raised their stock price target for NRG to $167.

Furthermore, S&P Global Ratings revised NRG Energy’s outlook to stable, following the company’s proposal to acquire a portfolio from LS Power for approximately $12.1 billion. This move is seen as credit positive, diversifying NRG’s geographic exposure and increasing its generation capacity. The acquisition is expected to double NRG’s owned generation capacity and improve its business profile. Additionally, NRG Energy announced plans to redeem its outstanding 2.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2048, with redemption scheduled for July 2025. These recent developments reflect NRG Energy’s strategic focus on growth and strengthening its market position.

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