Nova Scotia Power CEO Vivek Sood to Step Down After Less Than a Year
Nova Scotia Power CEO Vivek Sood is leaving after deciding not to renew his contract. Chris Smith, the utility's executive vice-president of finance and commercial, will take over on November 2.
Nova Scotia Power CEO Vivek Sood is stepping down after less than a year in the role, having decided not to renew his contract. Chris Smith, currently the utility’s executive vice-president of finance and commercial, will take over as CEO effective November 2.
Sood became Nova Scotia Power’s chief executive in March 2026. He took the position during the fallout from a cyberattack that compromised the personal information of hundreds of thousands of customers. His tenure involved efforts to stabilize operations following the breach and navigating contentious power rate increases. A combined power rate hike of seven per cent will take effect when the second of two price increases occurs in January.
NSP board chair Scott Balfour thanked Sood for his leadership during what he described as a pivotal year and welcomed Smith as the new CEO. Smith joined Nova Scotia Power in 2017 and previously served as president of Heritage Gas.
The leadership change comes as the utility faces scrutiny over its financial plans. Nova Scotia Power has until Thursday to respond to questions from intervenors regarding its proposal to convert $1 billion of grid transition costs into a 30-year mortgage.