Robert (Bob) Smith is executive vice president, chief development officer and general counsel of Pinnacle West Capital Corporation and its primary subsidiary, Arizona Public Service Company (APS). He also serves as President of Pinnacle West’s non-regulated energy and transmission operating subsidiaries, including El Dorado Investment Corporation, PNW’s venture capital and venture debt investment vehicle, and Bright Canyon Energy, PNW’s non-regulated solar, battery and micro-grid solutions company. Smith is responsible for overseeing all facets of the company’s legal affairs and governance function as well as providing executive leadership on the company’s strategies and growth plans. Smith focuses on helping companies innovate and develop their growth plans and strategies.
Bob has nearly 30 years of energy company and legal experience, including experience with IPO’s, spin-offs, mergers and acquisitions, complex commercial transactions and energy company operations.
Prior to Pinnacle West, Smith was senior vice president and general counsel of Columbia Pipeline Group, where he led its spin-off IPO from NiSource, as well as its subsequent $13 billion sale. Smith has also held significant positions at NiSource, Progress Energy (now Duke Energy) and Mirant Corporation. Smith earned his law degree from The Ohio State University and completed his bachelor’s degree at the University of South Alabama.
Bob is very active in transformational charities and serves as chairman of the board of directors for Global Action, an international compassion and leader training organization as well as serving on the board of directors of the Musical Instrument Museum located in Phoenix, AZ. He is also active with the Sustainable Missions Project, which aims to help visionary leaders in developing nations transform their communities through bi-vocational work and training that supports their mission over the long-term. He also serves on the board of the National Association of Manufacturers and on the Business Advisory Council for the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.