Debra L. Reed

Debra L. Reed
Born1957 (age 68–69)
Alma materUSC Viterbi School of Engineering
OccupationBusinesswoman
Known forFormer chief executive officer of Sempra Energy

Debra L. Reed (born 1957) is an American businesswoman who was the CEO of Sempra Energy from 2011 until her retirement in 2018. She was the first female CEO of Sempra Energy, a Fortune 500 energy services holding company based in San Diego, California.

Early life and education

Reed was born and raised in Southern California.

In 1978, Reed earned her BS in Civil Engineering (summa cum laude) from the University of Southern California. In 1986, she received her license for Engineer in Training.

Career

Reed was chairman of Sempra Energy from 2012 to 2018 and chief executive officer from 2011 to 2018.[1] She was promoted from her previous role as executive vice president at the firm. Before moving into the management of Sempra Energy, Reed was chief financial officer and thereafter (2006 to 2010) President and CEO of two Sempra subsidiaries, San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Gas Co (SoCalGas). She retired in 2018 and was replaced by Jeffrey Martin.[2][3]

In her role at Sempra, Reed presided over $37bn in assets, operated revenues of $10+bn and 17,000 employees.[4] Reed started at SoCalGas in 1978. Her total compensation for 2013, $9,792,288 and her stock ownership for 2014, 57,762.[5]

In 1988, Reed became SoCalGas’s first female officer.[2][6] She was one of few female 500 CEOs from the Fortune 500 companies.

Business awards

In 2014, Reed was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Energy to the National Petroleum Council.[7] Fortune Magazine has named her to its list of "Most Powerful Women in Business" six consecutive times, ranking her #23 in 2015 and #22 in 2016.[8]

Board memberships

Reed is a member of the board of directors of Halliburton Co., the Board of Councilors of the University of Southern California Viterbi School of Engineering, Chairman’s Competitiveness Council, The Trusteeship and The Business Council.

In the past, Reed was chairman of the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation, a member of the board of directors of Genentech and Avery Dennison Corp.

On April 8, 2015, Caterpillar Inc. announced that Reed had been nominated to join the board of directors, with election to be held at the June 2015 annual stockholders meeting.[9]

Personal life

Reed lives with her husband and daughter in San Diego.

References

  1. ↑ Wolff, Eric (2011-06-27). "ENERGY: Sempra Energy names Debra Reed new CEO". sandiegouniontribune.com. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
  2. 1 2 Diego, Chris Jennewein • Times of San (2018-03-13). "Days After Closing Big Texas Acquisition, Sempra's CEO Announces Her Retirement". Times of San Diego. Retrieved 2026-04-03.
  3. ↑ "Debra Reed stepping down as Sempra CEO". San Diego Union-Tribune. 2018-03-12. Retrieved 2026-04-03.
  4. ↑ "Reed CV" (PDF). Sempra. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 November 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  5. ↑ "Debra Reed Profile" (PDF). Forbes. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 November 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  6. ↑ Huang, Keith (2007-11-19). "Breaking Ground … in Utilities - WSJ". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2026-04-03.
  7. ↑ "Debra L. Reed: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer". Sempra. Archived from the original on 17 October 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  8. ↑ "Fortune Names Sempra CEO Debra L. Reed to 'Most Powerful Women in Business' List - Again". San Diego Business Journal. September 8, 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  9. ↑ "Debra Reed Nominated to Join CAT Board of Directors". PRNewswire. Retrieved 9 April 2015.