CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy today announced the appointment of Doug Esamann, currently president of Duke Energy Indiana, as president of the company's Midwest and Florida Regions and a corporate executive vice president.

Esamann, 57, will oversee the company's Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Florida utilities, effective June 1, 2015. Previously, those operations were overseen by Keith Trent, who is retiring.

He will report to Duke Energy CEO and president Lynn Good, and serve on the company's senior management committee.

"Doug Esamann is a seasoned executive who put customers first in working with regulatory, government and economic development stakeholders as president of Duke Energy Indiana," said Lynn Good Duke Energy CEO and vice chair.  "We look forward to his leadership of our Midwest and Florida utilities as a member of our senior management committee."

Esamann, a 36-year veteran of Duke Energy, has since 2010 overseen the company's operations in Indiana, where Duke Energy is the largest electric utility, serving about 810,000 customers in 69 of the state's 92 counties.

Previously, Esamann served as senior vice president of corporate strategy for Duke Energy, and group vice president of strategy and planning for Duke Energy's U.S. Franchised Electric and Gas organization.

Melody Birmingham-Byrd, currently senior vice president of Midwest Distribution Operations, will replace Esamann as president of Duke Energy Indiana, reporting to Esamann.

The company also announced, effective June 1:

• Chuck Whitlock, currently senior vice president of Gas Operations will broaden his responsibilities to include Midwest Distribution Operations, reporting to Esamann.
• Lee Mazzocchi, who previously reported to Trent, will continue in his role as senior vice president, Grid Solutions, reporting to Lloyd Yates, executive vice president, Market Solutions, and president of the Carolinas Region.
• Michael Lewis, who previously reported to Trent, will continue in his role as senior vice president, Transmission, reporting to Dhiaa Jamil, executive vice president and president of the newly named Regulated Generation & Transmission organization.
• Greg Wolf, currently president, Duke Energy Renewables, will become president, Commercial Portfolio, which will include Commercial Transmission, Strategic Initiatives, and Duke Energy Renewables, reporting to Good. Previously, those operations, as well as Duke Energy International, were overseen by Marc Manly, who is retiring.
• Andrea Bertone, president of Duke Energy International, will continue in that role, also reporting to Good.

"These individuals bring extensive experience, deep expertise and strong commitment to their respective positions," Good said. "I am very confident in these leaders' ability to help us achieve our strategic goals and accelerate our focus on customers, operations, employees and growth."

Duke Energy

Duke Energy is the largest electric power holding company in the United States with approximately $121 billion in total assets. Its regulated utility operations serve approximately 7.3 million electric customers located in six states in the Southeast and Midwest. Its commercial power and international energy business segments own and operate diverse power generation assets in North America and Latin America, including a growing portfolio of renewable energy assets in the United States.

Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is a Fortune 250 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com. 

Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Media Contact: Tammie McGee
24-Hour: 800.559.3853

Analysts Contact: Bill Currens
Office: 704.382.1603

Logo- http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130322/CL81938LOGO

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/duke-energy-appoints-esamann-to-head-midwest-florida-operations-300086058.html

SOURCE Duke Energy