Online Energy Broker Names Former Wal-Mart VP as New CEO; Company Also Raises $7.5 Million in Series B Funding

Online energy broker and marketplace Choose Energy has named Kerry Cooper as its new chief executive officer.

Cooper comes to Choose Energy with a background in e-commerce and consumer marketing. Cooper previously held a variety of senior positions at Wal-Mart, including as Vice President for Global eCommerce and Chief Marketing Officer for Walmart.com. Most recently, Cooper served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Marketing Officer at ModCloth, an e-tailer of independently designed fashion and decor. Cooper began her career at McKinsey & Company.

Cooper will lead the expansion of Choose Energy into all 19 deregulated electricity states and 22 natural gas states in 2014.

"Kerry's proven track record of success and years of consumer marketing and e-commerce expertise make her a perfect fit to steer Choose Energy into our next stage of expansion," said Choose Energy's founder Jerry Dyess. "Her leadership will be crucial as we accelerate into new deregulated markets and continue to grow our footprint in natural gas states in the months ahead."

Dyess will continue to play an integral role as chief commercial officer. In this capacity, Dyess will focus on building relationships with suppliers and ensuring they provide competitive products that are valuable for consumers.

Choose Energy also announced that it recently raised a $7.5 million Series B investment from investors including Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers (KPCB), BlueScape Resources, NGEN Partners, Stephens Capital Partners and Michael Polsky.