Duke Energy has announced that Preston Gillespie, executive vice president, chief generation officer and enterprise operational excellence, will retire after 40 years with the company. Gillespie will remain with Duke Energy until March 1, 2027, to ensure a smooth transition. Beginning March 1, 2026, he will be responsible for guiding the company’s decisions regarding new nuclear initiatives.
Harry Sideris, president and chief executive officer of Duke Energy, said: “Our customers rely on us for dependable, affordable energy, while a rapidly changing world demands greater speed, agility and innovation. The depth of leadership talent and thoughtful transition provides the continuity that allows the company to deliver today and invest for the future – supporting the growth we are delivering for our communities across our service territories.”
Sideris also expressed gratitude for Gillespie’s service: “On behalf of everyone at Duke Energy, I want to thank Preston for his decades of dedicated service to the company. Over the course of 40-plus years, Preston has been an invaluable asset whose leadership and commitment have shaped our culture and driven our generation and operational excellence division to new heights. His unwavering focus on safety, performance and cost efficiency has set the standard for our industry and inspired those around him.”
Gillespie’s tenure included overseeing operations of Duke Energy’s fleet generating capacity exceeding 50,000 megawatts. He previously served as chief nuclear officer where he managed what is described as the nation’s largest regulated nuclear generating fleet. Gillespie began his career at Duke Energy in 1986 as an assistant engineer at Oconee Nuclear Station.
Effective March 1, 2026, Kelvin Henderson will become senior vice president, chief generation officer and enterprise operational excellence. Henderson currently serves as senior vice president and chief nuclear officer. In his new role he will oversee a large portfolio of generation assets as Duke Energy expands to meet increasing energy demand while focusing on keeping costs low for customers. Henderson brings more than three decades of experience in nuclear operations.
Steven Capps will take over as senior vice president and chief nuclear officer reporting to Henderson. Capps is currently responsible for new nuclear development and operations support within Duke Energy’s nuclear division.
Duke Energy serves about 8.6 million electric utility customers across six states—North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky—and owns over 55 gigawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve about 1.7 million customers in five states.
The company is pursuing an energy transition strategy that includes investments in grid upgrades and cleaner power sources such as natural gas, renewables like wind or solar power (https://www.duke-energy.com/our-company/about-us), expanded use of nuclear energy (https://news.duke-energy.com/releases/duke-energy-florida-completes-solar-power-plant-expansion-in-hamilton-county), and increased deployment of energy storage technologies.
More information can be found at duke-energy.com or through its social media channels.
