Duke Energy Announces Strategic Leadership Transitions to Support Energy Growth and Modernization Efforts
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), one of the nation’s largest energy holding companies, today announced a series of senior leadership appointments that reflect its commitment to organizational excellence and long-term strategic growth. These changes are designed to enhance the company’s ability to meet increasing energy demands while advancing its multi-billion-dollar infrastructure modernization plans.
The leadership changes come at a significant moment in the company’s trajectory, as Duke Energy continues to implement its $83 billion capital investment strategy. This initiative aims to support grid modernization, transition to cleaner energy sources, and better serve its more than 10 million electric and natural gas customers across six states.
Honoring a Legacy: Julie Janson to Retire in 2025
The announcement follows the planned retirement of Julie Janson, a seasoned executive who has been a cornerstone of the company’s leadership for nearly 40 years. Janson currently serves as executive vice president and chief executive officer of Duke Energy Carolinas and leads the company’s Natural Gas Business Unit. Her retirement will be effective July 1, 2025.
“On behalf of everyone at Duke Energy, I want to thank Julie for her nearly four decades of service to the company, our customers, and our shareholders,” said Harry Sideris, president and CEO of Duke Energy. “An industry veteran and invaluable member of our team, Julie played a large role in shaping today’s Duke Energy and has embodied the values that make Duke Energy a great company. Her leadership in transforming our company helped pave the way for the growth opportunities we have in front of us. We will miss her and wish her the very best in retirement.”
Janson’s career at Duke Energy was marked by her dedication to operational excellence, regulatory leadership, and a steady focus on customer satisfaction. She played a pivotal role in navigating Duke Energy through periods of regulatory change, technological transition, and growth within both the electric and natural gas sectors.
Strategic Appointments to Drive Future Growth
To maintain the momentum of its current growth trajectory and continue delivering reliable, affordable, and cleaner energy to millions, Duke Energy is promoting a group of seasoned executives into new or expanded roles. These appointments reflect the depth of leadership talent within the company and ensure continuity of vision and values.
Kodwo Ghartey-Tagoe has been named to succeed Janson as executive vice president and chief executive officer of Duke Energy Carolinas and will also take over as head of the company’s Natural Gas Business Unit. Ghartey-Tagoe currently serves as executive vice president, chief legal officer, and corporate secretary. His career with Duke Energy spans over two decades, during which he served in several leadership roles including president of Duke Energy’s South Carolina utility operations. Known for his strategic insight and legal expertise, Ghartey-Tagoe will now be responsible for overseeing one of Duke Energy’s largest service regions as well as its natural gas operations.
Alex Glenn, currently the executive vice president and CEO of Duke Energy Florida and Midwest, will transition into the role of executive vice president and chief legal officer. Glenn will be responsible for overseeing legal affairs, ethics and compliance, and the corporate audit function. With nearly 30 years at the company, Glenn brings a wealth of legal, regulatory, and operational experience to the role. He previously served as senior vice president of state and federal regulatory legal support, where he played a key role in navigating policy and regulatory frameworks across multiple jurisdictions.
Louis Renjel, who currently serves as Duke Energy’s chief corporate affairs officer, will assume the dual roles of executive vice president and chief executive officer of Duke Energy Florida and Midwest, while continuing to oversee corporate affairs. Renjel joined Duke Energy in 2017 from CSX Corporation, where he held senior leadership roles in government affairs and strategy. At Duke Energy, Renjel has been instrumental in aligning corporate policy initiatives with stakeholder engagement, community relations, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategy.
Cameron McDonald, currently serving as senior vice president and chief human resources officer, will join the company’s senior management committee. McDonald has led numerous employee engagement, talent development, and organizational culture initiatives. Her promotion signals a broader recognition of the critical role human capital plays in supporting Duke Energy’s transformation and ensuring the company remains a top employer in the energy sector.
In another internal leadership update, David Maltz, vice president of corporate legal support and chief governance officer, will expand his role to include the responsibilities of corporate secretary. This move enhances Duke Energy’s corporate governance infrastructure and reflects Maltz’s contributions to ensuring transparency, regulatory compliance, and effective board management practices.
Ghartey-Tagoe, Glenn, Renjel, and McDonald will report directly to CEO Harry Sideris in their new roles.
Aligning Leadership with Strategy
CEO Harry Sideris emphasized the strategic rationale behind these leadership moves, stating, “As Duke Energy executes its $83 billion capital plan to modernize energy infrastructure, meet unprecedented load growth across its service territory, and serve growing communities, these appointments underscore the deep level of talent we have across our organization. They also reflect the continued progression of our leadership as we ensure continuity and drive innovation. I look forward to working with my colleagues in their new roles as we continue advancing our strategy to build a smarter energy future for our customers, stakeholders, and shareholders.”
These changes are aligned with Duke Energy’s broader vision for an intelligent, reliable, and sustainable energy future. The company has been making significant investments in grid upgrades, clean energy technologies—including solar, wind, natural gas, and nuclear power—and innovative customer solutions. With these leadership transitions, Duke Energy is doubling down on its commitment to delivering a balanced energy portfolio that meets rising energy demand while minimizing environmental impact.
A Glance at Duke Energy’s Operations
Duke Energy, a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, is a leading provider of electric and natural gas services in the United States. The company’s electric utilities serve 8.6 million customers across North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky, operating a combined energy capacity of approximately 55,100 megawatts. In addition to its electric services, Duke Energy’s natural gas utilities provide service to 1.7 million customers in five states.
The company is at the forefront of the energy industry’s transition, with a focus on reliability, affordability, and environmental stewardship. Duke Energy is investing heavily in renewable energy, grid resilience, battery storage, and nuclear power to ensure its customers have access to clean and uninterrupted energy well into the future.
These executive changes position Duke Energy to successfully navigate the challenges and opportunities of the next decade. With the energy landscape rapidly evolving due to technological innovation, population growth, and increasing regulatory demands, the company’s focus on experienced, adaptive leadership is more important than ever.
By placing seasoned, strategic leaders in key positions, Duke Energy is ensuring that its mission—delivering reliable, increasingly clean energy to its customers—is supported by a leadership team that is capable of executing on ambitious plans while staying grounded in customer service, corporate responsibility, and operational excellence.
