Tim Pearson Takes the Helm as Duke Energy’s South Carolina State President

Tim Pearson Appointed South Carolina State President for Duke Energy

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Tim Pearson has been announced as the new state president for Duke Energy in South Carolina, effective November 1. He will take over from Mike Callahan, who has been promoted to senior vice president and treasurer following the retirement of Karl Newlin.

Key Responsibilities

In his new role, Pearson, 42, will manage state and local regulatory and government relations for Duke Energy in South Carolina. He is expected to work closely with the company’s corporate and regulatory strategy team to advance key legislative, rate, and regulatory initiatives throughout the state. In addition, Pearson’s team will oversee community relations and infrastructure engagement across South Carolina, known as the Palmetto State.

Overview and Credentials

According to Lynn Good, chair and CEO of Duke Energy, “Tim has a unique set of skills that are critical to how we address challenges facing the utility industry in new ways in South Carolina.” She expressed confidence in Pearson’s ability to lead discussions with stakeholders and policymakers effectively.

Pearson is a familiar figure at Duke Energy, having joined the company full-time as vice president of government affairs in 2023. Before this, he played an advisory role, contributing to energy policy discussions in South Carolina. He has extensive expertise spanning over a decade in government and policy matters within the state.

Before joining Duke Energy, Pearson served as an advisor to several South Carolina governors. Notably, he worked as the general consultant for Henry McMaster‘s successful campaigns in 2018 and 2022 and was chief of staff for Nikki Haley during her time as governor.

Changes at the Helm

Callahan, 49, has spent the last five years leading Duke Energy’s operations in South Carolina. He expressed pride in the accomplishments of his team, which included significant community support initiatives during the pandemic and effective management of disaster response efforts, including when Helene struck the state.

Callahan is set to return to the financial aspects of the business, utilizing his extensive experience in investor relations and financial planning. He has been with Duke Energy since 2002 and previously worked as the vice president of investor relations.

New Leadership in Government Affairs

Succeeding Pearson as vice president of government affairs will be Tigerron “Tiger” Wells, currently the state government affairs director. Wells brings a wealth of experience from his background as a South Carolina lawyer and previous partner at the law firm of Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd. For the past five years, he has been actively involved in Duke Energy’s lobbying efforts and management of legislative strategies.

Pearson’s team will also include Heather Shirley Smith, vice president of regulatory and policy, who will continue to focus on regulatory matters, and Rick Jiran, vice president of government and community relations, who will oversee local government relations and community engagement.

Duke Energy Overview

Duke Energy is a major energy holding company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. It serves approximately 8.4 million customers across several states, including South Carolina. The company is currently focused on transitioning to cleaner energy with significant investments in enhancing the electric grid while maintaining reliability and affordability for its customers.

In line with its goals, Duke Energy aims for net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas business by 2030 and intends to achieve net-zero carbon emissions from electricity generation by 2050.