The board of directors of South River Electric Membership Corp. has selected Chris M. Spears to be the cooperative’s next executive vice president and chief executive officer. Spears, 51, will assume his position on May 1. He succeeds South River EMC’s retiring executive Buddy G. Creed, who has been with the cooperative since 1969 and has served as executive vice president and CEO since 1996.

Spears has served as an apprentice lineman for Spoon River Electric Cooperative, vice president of office services for Shelby Electric Cooperative and as general manager and executive vice president at Osceola Electric Cooperative and MJM Electric Cooperative, all based in Illinois.

South River EMC provides electric service to 42,000 homes, farms and businesses in parts of Harnett, Cumberland, Sampson, Johnston and Bladen counties.