Statement from Board Chair on Upcoming Retirement of BC Hydro’s President and CEO, Chris O’Riley
March 12, 2025
On behalf of the BC Hydro Board of Directors, Glen Clark, Board Chair, has issued the following statement to advise that Chris O’Riley, BC Hydro’s President and CEO, has announced his decision to retire from his position effective Aug. 1, 2025, following 35 years of dedicated service to BC Hydro and the people of British Columbia. Throughout his tenure, Chris has played a pivotal role in ensuring that BC Hydro delivers renewable, affordable and reliable power to communities across British Columbia.
To facilitate a smooth transition of responsibilities for this leadership role, the Board of Directors will commence a comprehensive search for a successor in the coming months.
“On behalf of the entire Board, I extend our appreciation for Chris’s significant contributions to BC Hydro and look forward to continuing our work together in the months ahead as we prepare for the transition of this important leadership role.
Chris has been an integral part of BC Hydro since 1990, starting his career as an engineer-in-training. Over the years, he has served British Columbians with unwavering commitment, rising through the ranks to join the executive team 18 years ago and ultimately becoming President and CEO in 2017.
Chris will be retiring as BC Hydro’s longest-serving President and CEO—a remarkable legacy, and has overseen periods of tremendous growth for BC Hydro, including some of the largest expansions of electrical infrastructure in British Columbia’s history, while maintaining the highest levels of safety. His many accomplishments include oversight of the Site C Clean Energy Project alongside numerous other critical investments in B.C.’s electricity system, leading the company through the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis, meaningfully advancing reconciliation efforts with Indigenous communities, weathering the largest storms in B.C.’s history and ushering in BC Hydro’s $36 billion 10-Year Capital Plan.
Chris has been instrumental in the development of a strong and talented leadership team at BC Hydro, and I have been impressed by Chris’s exemplary leadership, work ethic and integrity. His dedication and commitment to excellence in operations and customer service will leave a lasting legacy, and we are committed to ensuring an orderly transition alongside Chris and the executive team.”
