Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) appoints Abigail Motsinger as new Chief Accounting Officer
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Duke Energy Corporation reported an upcoming leadership transition in its accounting function. Cynthia S. Lee, Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Controller, will retire effective December 31, 2026, and will serve in an advisor role starting March 1, 2026 until her retirement. On that same date, Abigail L. Motsinger, currently Vice President, Investor Relations, will become Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Controller.
Ms. Motsinger’s new pay package, effective March 1, 2026, includes an annual base salary of $408,361, a short-term incentive opportunity equal to 50% of base salary, and a long-term incentive opportunity equal to 95% of base salary. She will be a Tier I participant in the Duke Energy Corporation Executive Severance Plan and will otherwise remain in the same compensation and benefit plans she had before the promotion.
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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
| Commission file number | Registrant, State of
Incorporation or Organization, Address of Principal Executive Offices and Telephone Number |
IRS
Employer Identification No. |
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(a |
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT:
| Registrant | Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name
of each exchange on which registered |
| Duke Energy | |||
| Duke Energy | |||
| Duke Energy | each representing a 1/1,000th interest in a share of 5.75% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share | ||
| Duke Energy | |||
| Duke Energy | |||
| Duke Energy |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨
Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
On December 12, 2025, Duke Energy Corporation (“Duke Energy”) announced that Ms. Cynthia S. Lee, Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Controller, will be retiring effective December 31, 2026. Ms. Lee will move into an advisor role, effective March 1, 2026, until her retirement on December 31, 2026.
Also on December 12, 2025, Duke Energy announced that Ms. Abigail L. Motsinger has been appointed to the position of Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Controller, effective March 1, 2026.
Ms. Motsinger, 42, has served as Vice President, Investor Relations, since November 16, 2022. Prior to that role, Ms. Motsinger served as Director, Jurisdictional Forecasting from May 2021 until November 2022, Investor Relations Manager from November 2017 until May 2021, and, prior to that, in various roles of increasing responsibility within the finance and investor relations organizations, since joining Duke Energy in 2010. Upon assuming her new role, Ms. Motsinger’s current responsibilities will be assumed by Mr. Mike Switzer, who also will retain his current leadership of the corporate development organization.
In connection with this promotion, the Compensation and People Development Committee of the Board of Directors of Duke Energy, effective as of March 1, 2026, approved Ms. Motsinger’s total direct compensation, consisting of an annual base salary of $408,361, a short-term incentive opportunity of 50% of her annual base salary, and a long-term incentive opportunity of 95% of her annual base salary.
Ms. Motsinger will participate in the Duke Energy Corporation Executive Severance Plan as a “Tier I” participant upon her appointment to her new role. The Executive Severance Plan is described in more detail on pages 72-73 of the Corporation’s Proxy Statement, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 14, 2025. In all other respects, Ms. Motsinger will continue to participate in the compensation and benefit plans in which she was participating prior to the change in responsibilities. Ms. Motsinger has not entered into, nor were any amendments made to, any material plans, contracts or arrangements in connection with her change in responsibilities.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (the cover page XBRL tags are embedded in the Inline XBRL document). |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| DUKE ENERGY CORPORATION | ||
| Date: December 12, 2025 | By: | /s/ David S. Maltz |
| Name: | David S. Maltz | |
| Title: | Vice President, Legal, Chief Governance Officer and Corporate Secretary | |
FAQ
What leadership change did Duke Energy (DUK) announce in this 8-K?
Duke Energy announced that Cynthia S. Lee, Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Controller, will retire on December 31, 2026, and that Abigail L. Motsinger will assume that role effective March 1, 2026.
When will Cynthia S. Lee retire from Duke Energy (DUK)?
Cynthia S. Lee is scheduled to retire from Duke Energy effective December 31, 2026. Beginning March 1, 2026, she will move into an advisor role until her retirement date.
What is Abigail L. Motsinger’s new role and effective date at Duke Energy (DUK)?
Abigail L. Motsinger has been appointed Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Controller of Duke Energy, effective March 1, 2026.
What is the compensation package for Abigail L. Motsinger in her new role at Duke Energy?
Effective March 1, 2026, Ms. Motsinger’s total direct compensation includes an annual base salary of $408,361, a short-term incentive opportunity of 50% of base salary, and a long-term incentive opportunity of 95% of base salary.
Will Abigail L. Motsinger participate in any executive severance plan at Duke Energy (DUK)?
Yes. Upon her appointment to the new role, Ms. Motsinger will participate in the Duke Energy Corporation Executive Severance Plan as a Tier I participant.
What happens to Abigail L. Motsinger’s current Investor Relations responsibilities at Duke Energy?
When Ms. Motsinger becomes Chief Accounting Officer and Controller, her current Investor Relations responsibilities will be assumed by Mike Switzer, who will also keep his leadership of the corporate development organization.
