Deb Merril
EMC17 Keynote Speaker
Deb is the President of Retail at EDF Energy North America, a leading competitive supplier to the large C&I segment, and part of EDF Group which is one of the world’s largest power companies and a global leader in low-carbon energy. EDF Energy provides a suite of products including power, gas, renewable energy, demand response, energy efficiency, and on-site generation management. When Deb joined EDF in 2019, she was challenged to take the current business and create meaningful and profitable growth. She designed and implemented a strategic plan that improved systems and processes, made changes to organizational structure to leverage talent and provide clear accountability for key areas, and grew the sales footprint to reach a broader customer base. This has led to significant growth moving EDF from the fifth-largest Commercial and Industrial power supplier up to the third position, while significantly growing the profitability of the business.
Deb currently serves as an Advisor to Energy Transition Ventures, a venture capital firm investing in startups that are leading the energy transition. The Fund focuses on investments in distributed energy, electrification, mobility, resource efficiency, and other enabling technologies in the energy space. She was previously board director for Just Energy, a then publicly traded retail energy provider (NYSE:JE TSX:JE.TO) with revenues of $3.8B. She also served on the board of ecobee, a private company founded in 1997 that is focused on creating smarter Wi-Fi thermostats that provide energy efficiency and savings.
Prior to this, Deb led Just Energy for four years as the President and co-CEO. She was appointed President and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Just Energy Group Inc. in April 2014 where she led the company through a transformation to a consumer-focused retail energy provider delivering real value to consumers. During her time as co-CEO, she grew EBITDA by 24%, reduced debt from 6.8x net debt to EBITDA down to 2.5x, expanded sales channels and new customer additions by 26% and expanded the company outside North America by adding operations in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany and Japan.
In 2002, Deb co-founded Just Energy LP, a Houston-based retail energy start-up. Sensing the opportunities presented by a newly deregulated energy market in Texas, Deb partnered with four former industry colleagues to launch the venture with a blueprint designed for longevity and growth. In 2007, the $100 million revenue business caught the attention of then Energy Savings Group, which purchased Just Energy, retaining its sound operational structure, and the proven leadership team behind it. In 2009, Energy Savings re-branded under Just Energy Group Inc. – a turn of events that brought Deb, as Just Energy’s top Executive, full circle with the regional start-up she co-launched in 2002.
Deb holds a BA from the College of Wooster, as well as an MBA from Texas A&M University. She is active with various organizations including serving on the Board for the Women’s Energy Network and the Advisory Board for Hawthorn Club as well as various speaking engagements that showcase her as an industry expert and thought leader.