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Thursday, November 12, 2026Nov 12

William Kilbride elected TVA chairman

Contributed photo / William Kilbride, the new chairman of the Tennessee Valley Authority
Contributed photo / William Kilbride, the new chairman of the Tennessee Valley Authority Contributed photo / William Kilbride, the new chairman of the Tennessee Valley Authority
photo Contributed photo / William Kilbride, the new chairman of the Tennessee Valley Authority

Two years after joining the Tennessee Valley Authority board of directors, William Kilbride was elected Wednesday as chairman of the TVA board, becoming the first Chattanoogan to serve as the TVA’s chair in the utility’s 88-year history.

Kilbride, the 70-year-old retired Mohawk Industries executive who previously headed the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce for three years, was chosen Wednesday by the current 7-member TVA board as its chairman.

“It’s an incredible honor for me,” Kilbride said Wednesday after he was elected chair.

Kilbride, who has previously chaired TVA’s audit, risk and regulation committee, has served on most of the TVA board committees as a director since former Sen. Lamar Alexander helped put the retired executive on the TVA board in 2019.

“His professionalism, business acumen and leadership abilities make him highly qualified for this chair position,” said TVA Director Kenny Allen, who nominated Kilbride to chair the TVA board.