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Cadiz Inc. announced this week the appointment of Susan Kennedy to the Company’s Board of Directors. Kennedy brings more than 30 years of relevant public and private experience, including her roles as former Commissioner of the California Public Utilities Commission, former Chief of Staff and Cabinet Secretary to two California governors, former member of the California Bay-Delta Authority.
“I am extremely pleased to welcome Susan to the Company’s Board of Directors,” said Scott Slater, Cadiz CEO and Board Member. “Susan is an accomplished and well-respected leader with a diverse background as a CEO, government regulator and consensus builder, particularly in the water and renewable resources sectors. That experience will help guide Cadiz in our commitments to provide clean, reliable, and affordable water to Californians and be of significant benefit to our Board and our shareholders.”
Kennedy’s appointment, effective immediately, comes as the Company continues to expand its water and agricultural footprint in California. Cadiz is focused on advancing its commitments to provide sustainable water and groundwater storage to communities who would benefit from additional access to reliable water supplies.
“I am delighted to join the Cadiz Board at this exciting time,” said Kennedy. “The Company has great potential to make meaningful contributions to addressing California’s water challenges particularly in communities underserved by the State’s traditional water supply system. I am excited to get to work and contribute my expertise to this important effort.”
Kennedy currently serves as a Senior Executive at Lyft, Inc. Prior to entering the private sector, Susan served as chief of staff to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (2006-2011) and cabinet secretary and deputy chief of staff to Governor Gray Davis (1999-2003).
From 2003 to 2006, Susan served as Commissioner of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). In this role, she oversaw CPUC efforts to ensure water utilities deliver clean, safe, and reliable water to their customers at reasonable rates. In addition to her service on the CPUC, Kennedy was confirmed by the California Senate to serve on the California Bay-Delta Authority. In this role, Kennedy was responsible for agreements among environmentalists, agricultural interests, and urban water users for multi-billion-dollar co-investments in water storage facilities, water use efficiency, and restoration of impaired waterways and fisheries.
Kennedy holds a B.A. in Management from Saint Mary’s College of California.
Kennedy will join the Cadiz Board’s Compensation Committee and the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, which oversees the Company’s public affairs and environmental, social and governance policy practices.
Cadiz also announced that Board members Murray Hutchison and Richard Nevins will retire in June and not stand for re-election. Richard Nevins and Murray Hutchison have served on the Board since 1997 and 2016 respectively.
Founded in 1983, Cadiz Inc. is a natural resources company headquartered in Los Angeles that owns more than 70 square miles of property with significant water rights in Southern California.
