Councilman Robert Gibbs

Councilman Robert Gibbs is a highly regarded professional with 24+ years’ corporate (Fortune 500 and Fortune Global 500) experience and a strong background in regulatory and government relations, representing interests before the United States, New Jersey, Connecticut, Georgia, and Illinois Governments, regulatory agencies, and various industry trade organizations.

Rob started his energy career in the law department of Public Service Enterprise Group, the parent of Public Service Electric and Gas Company in 1999.  Over the next 16 years, Rob held several distinctive roles including law, government affairs, real estate management, renewable energy, and program development for electric and natural gas vehicles.

In 2015, Rob moved to Direct Energy, North America’s largest energy and energy-related services retailer with over 4 million customer relationships.  There, Rob led Direct Energy’s advocacy in the New Jersey, Connecticut and Illinois markets through participation with national advocacy organizations, interaction with regulatory and legislative stakeholders, offering expert testimony in state and legislative proceedings, and providing strategic guidance for new business opportunities.  In 2021 NRG Energy, Inc. purchased Direct Energy and Rob currently serves as Director, Government Affairs covering New Jersey, the Southeastern States, and Natural Gas for the company.

Rob is a Graduate Gemologist from the Gemological Institute of America, attended Widener University School of Law for his Juris Doctor, and received his undergraduate degree from the University of Rhode Island.

Rob is a familiar face to many residents of Watchung as he served as Councilman from March 2013 to November 2019 (and Council President in 2018/2019).  During Rob’s time on Council, he led efforts in stabilizing the borough’s financial situation, growing its surplus from ~$800K to ~$4.2 million and overseeing credit rating agency increases to just short of AAA.  Rob spearheaded unique and money saving solutions which saved the borough significant funds, including over $1M in avoided costs to debride the rock wall face overlooking the PD and PW buildings and taking advantage of dropping interest rates to refinance existing bonds before their maturity date saving residents over $80K per year in debt service costs.

Rob and his wife, Robyn, have lived in Watchung since 2007 and have a son, Kalvin, and daughter, Rya.