NRG Energy Appoints Brad Bentley as President of Consumer Division to Lead Home Energy and Smart Home Expansion
NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NRG) has announced the appointment of Brad Bentley as President of NRG Consumer, effective July 28, 2025. In this pivotal role, Bentley will report directly to Larry Coben, Chair, President, and CEO of NRG Energy. His appointment marks a significant step forward in the company’s mission to strengthen its leadership in retail energy and smart home technology across North America.
With over two decades of executive experience in product development, consumer innovation, and marketing strategy, Bentley is tasked with overseeing NRG’s Home Energy and Smart Home businesses, which collectively serve more than 8 million customers. These divisions are at the core of NRG’s transformation into a customer-centric energy solutions provider, merging traditional electricity services with modern, technology-enabled smart home innovations.
Leadership with Vision
Larry Coben emphasized the strategic importance of Bentley’s role, stating:
“Brad’s leadership will help bring NRG’s consumer-first vision to the next level for millions of customers. His proven experience driving consumer engagement and strategic growth makes him exceptionally well-suited to take our Consumer business to greater heights. As we accelerate our integrated offerings and expand smart energy solutions, I am confident he will drive meaningful, long-term value, and I am excited for what’s ahead.”
Bentley echoed this enthusiasm, saying:
“I am excited to join NRG, a company that is leading the convergence of Smart Home and Home Energy technologies. As we build on NRG’s strategy of delivering the best energy, technology, and services to transform the customer experience, I look forward to unlocking new innovation and customer-focused features that will allow us to grow and scale our offerings even faster.”
Background and Track Record of Innovation
Brad Bentley brings a diverse and accomplished leadership background to NRG, with notable success in sectors spanning technology, energy, and media. Most recently, he served as Chief Operating Officer of Traveler Operation at Expedia Group, Inc., where he managed the $10 billion global Expedia Traveler business. In this role, Bentley demonstrated his ability to scale high-value consumer platforms through operational excellence, data analytics, and customer-centric strategies.
Before his time at Expedia, Bentley was CEO and President of Inspire Clean Energy, a clean energy tech company focused on empowering consumers to choose clean, renewable power through subscription-based energy plans. Under his leadership, Inspire Clean Energy accelerated its growth trajectory, leading to its acquisition by Shell in 2021. His experience at Inspire provides a strong foundation for guiding NRG’s smart energy evolution and enhancing its clean energy profile.
Earlier in his career, Bentley held key leadership roles at WarnerMedia, AT&T, and DIRECTV, where he was instrumental in shaping innovative consumer engagement strategies across digital platforms, subscription services, and mobile content delivery. These roles equipped him with a sharp understanding of how digital technologies and customer experience models can be leveraged to drive loyalty and growth—insights that align closely with NRG’s ambitions in smart home energy services.
Guiding NRG’s Consumer Evolution
Bentley’s role will be central to NRG’s ongoing transformation from a traditional electricity provider into a technology-enabled home energy company. NRG’s Consumer division is currently focused on:
- Integrating smart home technology with energy services to offer seamless, automated, and personalized home management solutions.
- Expanding consumer loyalty and engagement, creating value-added features that help customers reduce energy costs while increasing convenience.
- Innovating across digital platforms, ensuring customers can manage energy use, monitor devices, and receive real-time support via apps and smart tools.
- Driving the adoption of sustainable energy offerings, including solar and energy storage options, electric vehicle charging solutions, and clean energy plans.
By combining NRG’s legacy strengths in retail energy with Bentley’s expertise in digital transformation and consumer engagement, the company aims to revolutionize the way customers interact with and benefit from their home energy ecosystem.
A Strategic Appointment at a Pivotal Time
NRG’s decision to elevate leadership within its Consumer division comes at a time of accelerating energy transition. With residential energy consumption patterns shifting and smart home adoption rising, consumers increasingly demand customized, tech-driven solutions that align with their sustainability goals and lifestyle needs.
According to recent industry data, smart home device adoption has surged in the last five years, with nearly 70% of U.S. households now using at least one connected home device. Simultaneously, demand for clean energy and energy efficiency technologies continues to grow, driven by environmental awareness, cost pressures, and policy incentives.
NRG has positioned itself to lead in this emerging landscape by investing in technology integration, customer analytics, and scalable platforms that offer more than just electricity. The company’s Consumer division serves as the engine behind this strategy, and Bentley’s leadership will be crucial to turning that vision into reality.
Educational and Professional Credentials
Brad Bentley earned a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Vanguard University and went on to receive a Master’s degree in Marketing from Northwestern University. His academic background, combined with his executive experience across diverse sectors, underscores his capacity to drive strategic growth while remaining grounded in the principles of customer-focused marketing and product innovation.
