Teri Viswanath Joins CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange as Lead Economist, Power, Energy and Water
DENVER (June 29, 2020) — CoBank today announced that industry analyst Teri Viswanath has joined its Knowledge Exchange division as lead economist, power, energy and water. Viswanath will cover the North American electric and water utilities sectors, responsible for market intelligence, strategic guidance and policy assessment for CoBank customers and key decision makers in the bank.
“Teri brings a vast wealth of knowledge and expertise in commodities, energy and utilities,” said Tanner Ehmke, manager of CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange division. “In addition to being a seasoned analyst, she has broad experience with renewable energy markets and can offer critical insights on where the industry is going.”
Prior to joining CoBank, Viswanath was director of corporate strategy development for First Solar, the largest utility scale solar module manufacturer in North America. Viswanath led market research, competitive intelligence, and developed a comprehensive strategic framework for monitoring market trends on global energy transition.
An experienced Wall Street commodities analyst, Viswanath previously served as director of commodities research at BNP Paribas, Credit Suisse and Deutsche Bank. She’s held similar roles at Citadel and Dynegy over the course of her 25-year career in the energy sector.
“This is an exciting time to be joining the Knowledge Exchange team at CoBank,” said Viswanath. “Electric cooperatives are a critically important segment of the industry and we are approaching a crossroads in terms of how we think about our electric supply. The position with CoBank allows me to leverage my background and bring specific guidance to our valued electric cooperative customers to help them on their journey to energy transition.”
Viswanath said the myriad of challenges created by the coronavirus pandemic have led communities and industries to reflect about how critical services are being sourced and delivered. “Rural communities are increasingly more active and forward–thinking about energy transition,” she added. “For electric cooperatives serving those communities, the timeframe in which decisions about storage, solar and wind will be accelerated. I look forward to helping our customers navigate those difficult decisions.”
Viswanath earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from Central Michigan University and a juris doctor degree from Fordham University.
About CoBank
CoBank is a $158 billion cooperative bank serving vital industries across rural America. The bank provides loans, leases, export financing and other financial services to agribusinesses and rural power, water and communications providers in all 50 states. The bank also provides wholesale loans and other financial services to affiliated Farm Credit associations serving more than 70,000 farmers, ranchers and other rural borrowers in 23 states around the country.
CoBank is a member of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of banks and retail lending associations chartered to support the borrowing needs of U.S. agriculture, rural infrastructure and rural communities. Headquartered outside Denver, Colorado, CoBank serves customers from regional banking centers across the U.S. and also maintains an international representative office in Singapore.