Geisha Williams

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Geisha Williams
Born
Geisha J. Jimenez

1961/1962 (age 59–60)[1]
Cuba
NationalityAmerican
Alma materUniversity of Miami
Nova Southeastern University
OccupationBusinesswoman
TitleFormer CEO, Pacific Gas and Electric Company
TermMarch 2017 - January 2019
Spouse(s)Jay Williams
Children2 daughters

Geisha J. Williams (born Jimenez, c. 1961/1962) is a Cuban American businesswoman. She was the president and CEO of the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) from March 2017 to January 13, 2019.[1][2]

Early life[]

Williams was born Geisha J. Jimenez in Cuba.[3][4] At the age of five, Geisha migrated to the US with her parents, after her father, a political prisoner, was released from prison.[4] Her father worked various jobs to provide for his family and went on to own their own grocery store.[4]

She has a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering from the University of Miami and an MBA from Nova Southeastern University.[1]

Career[]

After university, Williams worked for Florida Power & Light (FPL), starting as a residential energy auditor.[5][3] Williams joined PG&E in 2007.[1] In March 2017, she became the first Latina CEO of a Fortune 500 company.[6]

She is a director at the Edison Electric Institute the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations and the Association of Edison Illuminating Companies, and is the board chair for the .[5]

Compensation criticism[]

In January 2019 Williams left PG&E as the company struggled to deal with legal and financial repercussions associated with a series of devastating California wildfires, which occurred in 2017 and 2018.[7] Despite losing more than $6 billion, Williams received a pay raise of 8.12% in 2018. PG&E filed for bankruptcy immediately after Williams' departure.[citation needed]

Williams is criticized for a $10mm+ pay packaging including $2.6mm in severance pay when she left PG&E as the company prepared to enter bankruptcy.[7] The Los Angeles Times reported that, "Williams’ compensation encompassed numerous perks, including a car and driver, a $51,000 security system for her home, health club and “executive health” services worth $5,453 and financial services subsidized to the tune of $7,980."[8]

In April 2019, California Governor Gavin Newsom expressed concern that new PG&E board members would have little knowledge of California, and may lack the expertise to safely run a utility.[9]

Williams was succeeded by John Simon as interim CEO, then, in May 2019, Bill Johnson became CEO, garnering "more than twice the base salary" of Williams.[10]

Personal life[]

She is married to Jay Williams, and they have two daughters.[3][4]

She sits on the Board of Directors of the Bipartisan Policy Center[11] and the Board of Trustees of the California Academy of Sciences.[12]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Geisha J. Williams: Executive Profile & Biography". Bloomberg. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  2. ^ Morris, J.D. (January 14, 2019). "PG&E CEO Geisha Williams out amid utility's widening financial crisis - SFChronicle.com". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c Markelz, Michelle (June 16, 2013). "Geisha Williams: Providing Power to the People – Hispanic Executive". Hispanicexecutive.com. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "PG&E's Bolt of Energy". fortune.com. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b "PG&E Company - Geisha J. Williams". Pgecorp.com. November 29, 2011. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  6. ^ Draznin, Haley. "A former refugee, she's now the first Latina CEO of a major US company". CNNMoney. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b "PG&E Chief Executive Geisha Williams leaves as utility readies for possible bankruptcy". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
  8. ^ https://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-hiltzik-pge-ceo-raise-20190429-story.html. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  9. ^ Brekke, Dan (March 28, 2019). "Governor Blasts PG&E, Says Utility Is Focused on 'Quick Profits' Over Safety". KQED. Archived from the original on March 29, 2019. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  10. ^ "New PG&E CEO to rake in a salary more than double that of Geisha Williams, his predecessor"; Hannah Norman; San Francisco Business Times; Apr. 16, 2019.
  11. ^ https://bipartisanpolicy.org/person/geisha-williams/. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  12. ^ https://www.calacademy.org/leadership. Missing or empty |title= (help)
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