Decentralized Model A Common Sense Approach To Expansion

摘要

For many, the thought of a favorite company moving into expansion mode conjures images of a huge central office, employees who become increasingly narrow in focus and the all-to-common problem of trying to deal with customer service personnel located so far from the problem that they can't provide much assistance. Oakville, Ontario-based Liberty Utilities, a subsidiary of Algonquin Power & Utilities, embarked on a growth initiative less than five years ago after deciding it would be better served if regulated utilities formed a more significant portion of its business assets. The company bought a wastewater utility in Arizona, an electric utility in California and gas and electricity assets in New Hampshire. However, in an unusual twist, Liberty decided against implementing a centralized management, opting to keep the bulk of its customer, employee and even regulatory decision-making with local managers. Algonquin CEO Ian Robertson describes himself as "an unapologetic entrepreneur." In this interview he explains why centralized offices aren't always the least expensive or most efficient form of management and his company's commitment to bring bring back the local utility. He also discusses the one challenge that "keeps me up at night."