Crescent Names Penny Cotner President & CEO
Illinois-based Crescent Electric Supply Company, one of the largest independent distributors of electrical hardware and supplies, has appointed Penny Cotner President and Chief Executive Officer, effective October 1, 2025.
Cotner joins Crescent after a 12-year tenure at Infinite Electronics, a global supplier of electronic components, including the past seven years as CEO and member of the Board. Under her leadership, Infinite grew substantially through strategic acquisitions, operational scaling, and disciplined execution. Her career spans more than two decades in executive leadership, sales transformation, engineering, and global operations, with earlier roles at Arrow Electronics, a global distributor of electronic components, and NASA’s International Space Station program.
“Penny is a growth-minded leader whose experience, vision, and operational discipline will guide Crescent through its next chapter of growth,” said Mike Sullivan, Board Chair. “Her success in scaling complex organizations, fostering strong cultures, and delivering results aligns with our priorities to build on Crescent’s strong foundation, drive innovation, and deliver exceptional value.”
Cotner said, “I’m honored to join Crescent and lead such a respected family-owned company with a rich history and strong reputation in the industry. Crescent’s commitment to its customers, suppliers, and employees is clear, and I look forward to working with the Board and management team to build on our strengths, deepen relationships, and position the company for long-term success.”
Sullivan added, “Kristi Dahlke, Crescent’s Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, did an outstanding job as interim CEO as we completed our search. We thank her and look forward to her continued contributions and leadership in her CFO role.”
Cotner holds an executive MBA from the University of California, Irvine, multiple executive education certificates from Harvard Business School, and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from California State University, Northridge.
