Scott Prochazka, CEO of Centerpoint Energy, has resigned from his position with immediate effect. John Somerhalder, a director of the company, has been appointed interim CEO while the Board conducts a search for a new CEO. The Board determined that ‘now is the right time for a new leader with a fresh strategic perspective.’
Centerpoint Energy has a market capitalization of $13.7 billion. It has nearly $35 billion in assets and serves 7 million customers in 8 states.
Mr Prochazka has been with the company since 2001 and had been CEO since January 2014. He had a base salary of $1.323 million. According to the 2018 proxy statement, technically there are no formal severance payments due to Mr Prochazka, unless it is a change of control.
[UPDATE 03-09-20 The company has filed a separation agreement and it’s a whopper. Mr Prochazka will get a lump sum cash payment of $7,348,584. His 2016-2018 stock awards will also vest. It’s hard to tell, but they are probably worth about the same again]
When CFO Bill Rogers retired in March 2019, the Compensation Committee gave him a special lump-sum cash payment of $360,000 (about 60% of his base salary). He also had joined the company in 2001.
Xia Liu was appointed as the new CFO in April 2019.