Former MXenergy, Credit Suisse Execs Team with Advertising Agency CEO to Launch New Retail Supplier

Executives formerly with MXenergy and Credit Suisse Energy have joined a start-up retail supplier co-founded by the principal of an advertising agency that served over 50 of the Fortune 500 companies.

Specifically, SmartEnergy Holdings, LLC f/k/a Nationwide Energy, LLC, is gearing up to launch in the retail market. Thus far, it has applied for an Ohio electric supplier license to serve residential and commercial customers in all service areas. An application for FERC market-based rate authority indicates that SmartEnergy Holdings will operate as a retail supplier in additional markets.

SmartEnergy Holdings' CEO is Daniel Kern, who co-founded the company. Kern is a founder and principal of Main Street Direct, a direct marketing firm which developed and managed various marketing and back office operations for 50 of the Fortune 500 companies including American Express, Citi, Chase, as well as Citgo, Chevron, Conoco, BP, Exxon, Marathon, Shell, Phillips 66, and Sunoco. Kern led the acquisition of 2 million customers annually in both regulated and deregulated industries.

Lloyd Spencer serves as COO of SmartEnergy Holdings. Spencer was formerly Director and COO at Credit Suisse Energy, and previously worked at Deutsche Bank and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Gina Goldberg serves as Chief Marketing Officer of SmartEnergy Holdings. Goldberg was previously Senior VP of Sales and Marketing for MXenergy, helping grow the company from 40,000 customers to 500,000 customers.

According to a January 18 FERC filing for market-based rate authority, SmartEnergy was owned as of that date by Daniel Kern, Jackie Kern and Gina Goldberg. The January 18 filing noted that an offer had been made to another individual with a compensation package that includes a 5% equity interest in SmartEnergy.