Itron’s Mezey announces retirement, recruitment for new CEO underway

Philip Mezey will retire from Itron Inc. this year, prompting the Liberty Lake company to begin the search for a new president and chief executive.

Mezey, 59, has been Itron’s CEO since 2013. He joined the company in 2003 when Itron acquired Silicon Energy Corp., where Mezey was a senior vice president. Mezey worked in Itron’s energy segment and software development before being promoted to top executive.

During his tenure, Mezey is credited with helping Itron expand its global reach as a provider of technology and services to help cities and utilities track and manage their energy and water use.

“Under Philip’s leadership, Itron has become an industry leader with 8,000 customers worldwide and 190 million smart communicating devices deployed globally,” Lynda Ziegler, Itron’s board chair, said in a news release.

Mezey will continue in his role as president, CEO and board member through Aug. 31, or until his successor is appointed. He’ll remain at Itron in an advisory capacity through the end of the year to help with the leadership transition.

Initially spun off from Spokane-based utility Avista Corp. in 1977, Itron became a leading hardware maker and service provider for the electric, gas and water utility industry.

The company has grown from making automated utility meter readers to a broader focus on advanced metering, street lighting and other innovations, Mezey said.

Itron’s Intelis gas meter solution recently won a public safety award. The “smart” gas meter can sense and stop excess flows of natural gas automatically, improving safety for utility workers and residents in the event of a fire or breach on a fuel line, company officials said.

Itron reported sales of $1.8 billion through the first nine months of 2018.