Covanta announced the appointment of Tequila Smith as the company’s chief sustainability officer, reporting to CEO and President Azeez Mohammed. Smith succeeds Paul Gilman, who retired from Covanta last month after 14 years with the company.
Smith will be responsible for the repositioning and execution of the Morristown-based company’s sustainability strategy in accordance with its recent acquisition by EQT, a purpose-driven global investment organization. She will be focused on amplifying the company’s sustainability achievements through the strategic coordination of programs and initiatives through the lens of environmental, social and corporate governance impacts.
Smith joins Covanta after over two decades of working in a variety of roles with progressive scope and responsibility at Southern Co., Alabama Power Co. and Georgia Power Co. with hands-on senior leadership experience in helping industrial companies engage on issues of sustainability at both a corporate and community level.
Most recently, she served as vice president of sustainability for Georgia Power Co., the largest subsidiary of Southern Co., one of the nation’s largest generators of electricity. There, she led the implementation of Southern Co.’s ESG strategy.
“We are very pleased to welcome Tequila to the Covanta team,” Mohammed said. “She is a dynamic leader whose expertise will be invaluable as we seek to advance our sustainability performance initiatives within our expanding suite of services. Tequila will serve as a guiding light for the company as we look to further anchor our strategies around innovation and social impact.”
“I am proud to bring my experience to Covanta at such a pivotal time in the company’s history. I look forward to working with its talented and dedicated team to provide sustainable, socially responsible and environmentally innovative materials management solutions to businesses and communities,” Smith said.
