GDS Associates, Inc. ("GDS" or the "Company"), a leading provider of power consulting and advisory services to the U.S. utility industry, today announced that Gary Cooley has joined the Company as Chief Financial Officer. In this role, Mr. Cooley will lead GDS' financial, accounting, and operations management functions.

Mr. Cooley brings more than three decades of financial leadership experience across engineering, consulting, and advisory firms. Most recently, he served as Chief Corporate Development Officer and CFO of Anser Advisory, where he oversaw the firm's financial management and led its mergers, acquisitions, and integrations, including its acquisition by Accenture.

"Gary has spent his career successfully scaling professional services firms with discipline and steady leadership, and we are pleased to welcome him to the team," said Miki Deric, CEO of GDS. "His track record of executing and integrating acquisitions, along with his broader financial acumen, will be instrumental to GDS' ability to invest in our people, broaden the services we provide to our clients nationwide, and create new growth opportunities."

"GDS has built a business with a tremendous reputation for technical excellence, reflecting the strength and dedication of its team," said Mr. Cooley. "I look forward to working alongside Miki and the entire team to build on that legacy and execute on the opportunities for growth at GDS."

Earlier in his career, Mr. Cooley spent a decade at Arcadis North America, first as division CFO and later as Senior Vice President of Corporate Development, where he oversaw strategic partnerships, acquisitions, and divestitures. Previously, he was CFO and a board member of PinnacleOne, which he helped lead through its sale to Arcadis. He holds an MBA from San Diego State University and a bachelor's degree in finance from the University of San Diego.

GDS has taken multiple strategic steps over the past year to expand capabilities, enhance client service, and broaden service offerings. In September 2026, GDS named Miki Deric as CEO, and in April 2026, Daniel Powers joined as Chief Development Officer to lead the Company's acquisition strategy. Earlier this year, GDS partnered with Littlejohn & Co. to support the Company's long-term growth strategy.