Duke Energy, one of the largest energy holding companies in the United States, announced several new executive appointments in its finance organization, including the appointment of a new chief accounting officer, effective June 1.

Bill Currens, currently SVP, controller, and chief accounting officer, will assume leadership of the financial planning and analysis organization. Currens will be responsible for the business and financial planning functions of the enterprise, including oversight of the company's financial forecast. He will also manage the design of policies, processes, and systems that support the transformation of the finance function at Duke Energy.

A 16-year veteran of the company, Currens joined Duke Energy in 2002 as a manager in the controller's organization, moving on to lead the company’s investor relations team for nearly a decade. Before joining Duke Energy, he spent more than nine years with the public accounting firm KPMG.

Dwight Jacobs, currently SVP of financial planning and analysis, will assume Currens’ role as SVP, controller, and CAO. Jacobs will oversee the accounting, financial reporting, and internal controls. Like Currens, Jacobs joined the company in 2002 and served in leadership roles in rates and regulatory strategy, enterprise risk management, as well as utility planning and accounting. Prior to Duke Energy, he was a partner with Arthur Andersen in Washington, D.C.

Karl Newlin, currently SVP and chief commercial officer of natural gas, will become SVP of corporate development. He will oversee the execution of mergers/acquisitions and divestitures, as well as help the company develop its external growth strategy. Newlin succeeds Catherine Stempien, who was named president of Duke Energy Florida.

Newlin joined Piedmont Natural Gas in 2010, focused on managing the company’s strategic functions and business development opportunities. Newlin also served as chief financial officer for Piedmont prior to Duke Energy’s acquisition of the company in 2016.

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