Duke Energy Corp.’s board of directors has elected Fred J. Fowler as president and chief operating officer, reporting directly to Chairman and CEO Richard B. Priory, the company announced Monday.

Fowler had been the company’s group president for energy transmission since 1997, where he oversaw Duke Energy’s interstate natural gas pipelines and Duke Energy Field Services.

In the “new executive role,” Fowler will be responsible for the operations of Duke Energy’s energy businesses, including Duke Power Co., Duke Energy Gas Transmission, Duke Energy Field Services, Duke Energy International, Duke Energy Trading and Marketing and Duke/Fluor Daniel, according to the Charlotte, NC-based energy company.

Fowler, who has been in the energy business since 1968, has worked at Panhandle Trading Corp., been president of Trunkline Gas Co., president of Texas Eastern Transmission Corp. and group vice president of PanEnergy Corp. Duke Energy was created in 1997 as a result of the merger of PanEnergy and Duke Power.

He currently serves as chairman of the board for the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America, which represents interstate gas pipelines, and serves on the board of Texas Eastern Products Pipeline Co.

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