Tequila Smith will serve as Covanta’s new Chief Sustainability Officer, a move that comes after Paul Gilman retired last month. She will report to the President and C.E.O. Azeez Mohammed. Covanta is a leader in sustainable materials management and a premier provider of environmental solutions, benefiting businesses and communities across North America. It is headquartered in Morristown, New Jersey.

Tequila will be responsible for the repositioning and execution of Covanta’s sustainability strategy in accordance with the company’s recent acquisition by EQT, a purpose-driven global investment organization. Tequila will focus on amplifying the company’s sustainability achievements through the strategic coordination of program initiatives through the lens of Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance impacts.

Tequila earned her Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and Masters in Business Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She also holds a Master of Arts in Communications Studies, specifically focused on organizational leadership, from the University of Alabama.

 She is on the board of the School of Engineering and holds board seats on the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta, Stonehenge Capital Community Development and the HudsonAlpha Foundation.