Chesapeake Utilities CFO to Retire After 36 Years, COO Jeff Sylvester Named Successor
Chesapeake Utilities CFO Beth Cooper will retire June 30, 2026, after 36 years at the company. COO Jeff Sylvester, who joined in 2004 and advanced through finance and operations roles at Florida Public Utilities and Black Hills Energy, will become CFO on July 1, 2026.
1. CFO Retirement Details
Beth Cooper will retire as CFO on June 30, 2026, concluding a 36-year career at Chesapeake Utilities. She served as CFO since September 2008 and previously led financial and strategic planning functions. During her tenure she drove industry-leading earnings growth, maintained balance sheet strength and delivered sustained long-term returns for shareholders.
2. Succession Plan
Jeff Sylvester, currently chief operating officer, will be appointed CFO on July 1, 2026. He joined Chesapeake Utilities in 2004, advancing through roles in finance and business development. As COO since 2022, he has overseen company operations, customer care, project development and safety across all business units.
3. Executive Background of Sylvester
Sylvester’s experience includes serving as vice president of customer care at Florida Public Utilities from 2010 to 2012 and as vice president of operations at Black Hills Energy. He returned to Chesapeake Utilities in 2019 as senior vice president of operations. He holds a Bachelor of Science in financial management and an MBA in finance from Clemson University.
4. Strategic Impact
Board chair and CEO Jeff Householder highlighted Sylvester’s expertise in acquisitions, integrations and large-scale transformations as critical for Chesapeake Utilities’ next growth phase. The leadership transition aims to sustain the company’s growth strategy across natural gas, electricity and compressed natural gas services. Stakeholders will watch how the new CFO balances financial discipline with expansion initiatives.