NRG ENERGY, INC. 8-K

What Happened

• NRG Energy, Inc. announced on January 6, 2026 that the Board appointed Robert Gaudette (currently Executive VP, NRG Business and Wholesale Operations) as President effective immediately and designated him to become Chief Executive Officer effective April 30, 2026, the date of the company’s 2026 annual meeting of stockholders.
• Lawrence Coben informed the Board he will step down from the company on April 30, 2026. Dr. Coben resigned as President immediately but will remain CEO and Chair of the Board through April 30, 2026 and will serve as an advisor from April 30, 2026 through the end of the 2026 fiscal year to support an orderly transition.
• The Board appointed director Antonio Carrillo (on the Board since 2019) to succeed Dr. Coben as Chair of the Board upon Coben’s departure. Gaudette will be a director nominee at the annual meeting.

Key Details

• Appointment announcement date: January 6, 2026; CEO transition effective: April 30, 2026 (annual meeting date).
• Gaudette’s current title: Executive VP, NRG Business and Wholesale Operations; he will be added as a director nominee at the annual meeting.
• Coben will serve as an advisor from April 30, 2026 through the end of fiscal 2026; his departure is not due to any disagreement with the company.
• Compensation for Gaudette’s CEO/President roles has not been finalized; the company will file an amendment to disclose those details when available.

Why It Matters

• Leadership change: The company has set a clear timeline for a CEO succession, which is a material corporate governance event for investors monitoring strategy and management continuity.
• Transition management: Retaining Dr. Coben as CEO/Chair through April 30 and as an advisor thereafter signals an orderly handoff rather than an abrupt change.
• Outstanding items: Investors should note compensation arrangements for the incoming CEO have not yet been disclosed and will be provided in a future filing; that information may be relevant to governance and pay-related assessments.